BY sagnika sinhaSep 8, 2023

The weather is cooling down, and snow is falling, and that means it’s time to start taking advantage of the opportunity to enjoy some winter sports! Skiing is definitely at the top of our list, as well as hitting the ski resorts for a day of adventure. But did you know that there are actually a few ski only resorts left in the USA? Why do they still exist and what are some of the pros of visiting a ski-only resort? How Did It Start? Ski only resorts first started in the 1980s when snowboarding became popular. There was a stereotype surrounding snowboarders that insinuated that allowing skiers and snowboarders to use the same mountains was unsafe. This is because snowboarding was still such a new sport. This means there weren’t as many snowboarding instructors available, and most snowboarders were self-taught. Resorts wanted everyone to be as safe as possible, creating a ban on snowboarding based on overall safety. Over time, snowboarding became more popular and bans were dropped as it became evident that there was no safety issue. What Are The Only-Ski Resorts? If you are looking for places to ski, then you have to read the article to find out! If you are questioning how many Ski resorts in USA, I would say there are many! However, what are the only-ski resorts? Today, only three ski-only resorts are left in the USA, namely: Alta Alta is situated in Utah with 2614 acres of terrain that is more appropriate for Sking. It is a ski-only area well known for the excellent quality of powder snow, allowing advanced skiers to have a wonderful experience. It is considered one of the best places to ski in North America. Snowboarding is not allowed in this area. However, it was in 2014 that Wasatch Equality filed a lawsuit against the ban on snowboarding, stating that it violated the 14th Amendment. However, the lawsuit was overruled, and it was stated that no lawsuits were being violated. There is a partner resort, Snowbird, which allows snowboarding and has almost 2500 acres of terrain apt for skiers and snowboarders for beginners, intermediate and advanced people. Mad River Glen Mad River Glen is another North American resort situated in Fayston, Vermont. The resort did allow snowboarding till the 1991-1992 Ski session however, it was due to issues on the main lift that was faced by the owner in 1986, leading to a confrontation that restrictions were put on snowboarding. There have been further issues with snowboarders, which had led to full restrictions and 75% of the stakeholders on the mountain are fixed on keeping it restricted based on the last voting that took place in 1995.  The closest snowboarding experience you will get in Vermont is Sugarbush, which has 484 acres of ski terrain.  Deer Valley The ski area of Deer Valley is located in Utah and it does not allow snowboarding. The terrain has 2026 acres which is perfect for intermediate runs for Skiers and the resort is quite strict with their rules of only-ski In the whole of North America, it is one of the most expensive resorts.  It is considered one of the best ski resorts in the USA. It is an upscale resort. Hence, you must pay a premium for the services you are catered to.  If you want snowboarding options nearest to the resort, you should book Park City, which has access to 7 terrain parks with 7300 acres of terrain, making it a perfect place for snowboarders. What Are The Pros Of Ski Only Resorts? When it comes to the pros of visiting a ski-only resort, it really comes down to what kind of experience you want. Whether the resort serves a certain clientele or has tougher slopes, it all ties together to give you a one-of-a-kind experience that would be hard to find elsewhere. For all of the locations that are ski-only, there is a specific kind of ambiance and experience that one can take in when visiting. Only Ski resorts are safer because there can be a collision, especially when people are skiing and snowboarding together.  The snow quality of the terrain improves if only one type of sport is established for a specific area or location. For example, with only skiing, it helps in maintaining the quality of the powder of the snow. There is also a specific culture and tradition of a place that is maintained with only ski resorts. Snowboarding makes the terrain unstable, leading to unsuitable terrain for skiing. Reasons Why Snowboarding Is Banned In Some Sking Resorts? One of the main reasons why Snowboarding is banned in the three Sking Resorts is safety concerns. A lot of people believe that due to the sideway stance of snowboarding, they have a blind spot that might lead them to harm another skier or a snowboarder. The snowboarders also have a reputation for being more inconsiderate of their surroundings and reckless on the slopes. This worries a lot of skiers, making it compulsory for resorts to adjust their services based on their premium clientele. The quality of the snow does get affected especially when snowboarding takes place, because the force or the impact of their landing is much more forceful as compared to skiers. The force cuts the snow impacting the powder form. However, it must be said that if the resort is good with large terrain, the cutting of the snow powder will not really matter. Also, the safety of the skiers does not depend on snowboarders as it is often the lack of experience or dangerous trails that can pose harm to skiers more. What Should I Bring To A Ski-Only Resort? So what kinds of supplies and gear do you need to bring with you to a ski-only resort? We recommend owning a few items and bringing those along. This includes ski clothing, ski goggles, and boots. This ensures that you have items that fit you well and that you’re comfortable in. In terms of skis and poles, we highly recommend renting those. This reduces the need to transport them long distances and greatly reduces the stress of preparing to go skiing. Ski only resorts have an interesting history, and while they’ve mostly disappeared, there are still a few places you can go to have a unique trip out on the slopes. If you’re looking for a new way to experience skiing, we highly recommend making a trip out to one of these ski only resorts! Wrapping Up! So are you excited to try out skiing? Or Are you already an experienced skier? This is the perfect opportunity to visit one of these resorts and experience a tumultuous but passionate run. Enjoy the beautiful locale and the resorts' premium services, creating a perfect vacation experience. Comment below to let us know your favorite adventure sport and if you have tried skiing! 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