Two prime Utah ski spots gaining traction

OGDEN, Utah -- A short spin up Interstate 15 from Salt Lake City lie two of North America's best-kept ski secrets.

Snowbasin and Powder Mountain, two mammoth ski areas spread over thousands of acres at the northern end of the Wasatch Range, certainly aren't lacking in size or longevity. But they have been overshadowed by Utah's more popular resorts clustered around increasingly tony Park City and in the canyons above Salt Lake.

Snowbasin is the better known of the two, thanks to its moment in the spotlight as a 2002 Olympics venue. Powder Mountain, about 30 minutes away, remained largely a locals' secret until a few years ago, when the resort garnered top ratings for value and snow quality in Ski Magazine.

"We were shocked. We didn't even know we were on the radar," says marketing manager Carolyn Daniels. "But it probably got people looking at us for the first time."

Both resorts also are benefiting from a renaissance in Ogden, a city of 80,000 about 20 miles from both ski areas.

Forged by the railroad in the 1800s (it's near the Golden Spike Monument, where the first transcontinental rail lines met in 1869), Ogden always had a more heterogeneous population than much of Mormon-dominated Utah. Local lore has it that gangster Al Capone declared the place too wild for his tastes. But when the fortunes of the railroad declined, Ogden fell on hard times.

In recent years, however, the city has spruced up its historic downtown, courted ski-related businesses and is honing an image as a base for mountain-sports enthusiasts. A dozen ski-goods manufacturers, including Salomon, Descente and Scott, are here. And in 2007, Salomon Center, a mega sports complex with indoor skydiving, surfing and rock climbing, opened. On 25th Street, one-of-a-kind shops and restaurants have taken up residence in historic buildings.

"We've been overshadowed by Park City and Salt Lake City for a long time," says Sara Toliver, president of the tourism bureau. "We had great (ski) resorts that the locals cherished, but there was no reason to come here. Now it's become an incredible destination. We have world-class skiing within 30 minutes of downtown, and we're still very affordable."