Come February the world will be watching as athletes soar as high as the fireworks that will celebrate the World Freestyle Championships on the slopes of Park City’s prestigious resorts. While new names will pop up from every corner of the world, many of the competitors will be familiar faces you see around town every day. We found some of these locals to ask what Park City means to them.
WHAT MAKES PARK CITY SUCH A GREAT PLACE TO TRAIN?
NESSA DZIEMIAN | MOGULS
There’s a ton of gorgeous hikes and it’s almost always sunny. And with the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Team headquartered right here, we can consistently train and befriend other champions from other disciplines.
STEVE NYMAN | ALPINE
I love P.C. because everything is so close and easy to access! It is an active community where everyone is striving to be outside and supports and respects the outdoors.
ASHLEY CALDWELL | AERIALS
[Park City has] Accessibility to everything you could need as an athlete. You are also surrounded by incredible athletes in many different sports at all levels.
OLIVIA GIACCIO | MOGULS
Park City is not only one of the most historic places for the sport of mogul skiing, we have Champion, the 2002 Winter Olympic Games mogul course, set on the face of Deer Valley as our home course. The training venues we have are absolutely unmatched.
MORGAN SCHILD | MOGULS
I think a healthy environment encourages me to be the best athlete I can be. Park City offers so many diverse training facilities and venues that it’s hard to think of experiencing this lifestyle anywhere else.
BRADLEY WILSON | MOGULS
The atmosphere of the city is very inspiring. Th e people of Park City are very ambitious and active, and their desire to live a healthy lifestyle is very contagious.
WHAT DO YOU DO WITH ANY FREE-TIME?
STEVE NYMAN | ALPINE
Big mountain skiing. I enjoy being deep in the mountains and feeling small. We are surrounded by some incredible mountains with so much to explore around us.
AVITAL SHIMKO | MOGULS
You can find me on my bike or cooking up a storm in the kitchen!
OLIVIA GIACCIO | MOGULS
I love to try out new restaurants and coffee shops around town—Flying Sumo, Atticus Coffee Shop, Maxwell’s and Five5eeds are some of my favorites.
MORGAN SCHILD | MOGULS
I have found the drive to [Guardsman Pass] to be therapeutic and the scenery up there is freeing. Th e Wasatch Range is breathtaking at sunset and I find myself up there about 3-4 times a week to watch it.
ROSIE BRENNAN | CROSS COUNTRY
Running. Despite being a winter destination, the summer trails allow you to run for miles and miles without ever having to repeat trails.
WHAT HAS LIVING IN PARK CITY GIVEN YOU?
STEVE NYMAN | ALPINE
Park City and Utah in general has fostered a respect for the outdoors and nature within me. It is one of the biggest driving forces in my life and will be until I die. It is something I hope to pass onto my kids!
BRADLEY WILSON | MOGULS
The wider vision of different people. Park City is a melting pot of all kinds of people, with different stories and lifestyles. I love how it has given me an open mind of what is achievable in this world.
MORGAN SCHILD | MOGULS
Park City is essentially where I found my own. Park City is where I won my first Singles World Cup, qualified for the 2018 Olympic Games and started putting fry sauce on everything. I moved here because it was a U.S. Ski Team requirement and stayed because I fell in love with the adventurous and active lifestyle.
OLIVIA GIACCIO | MOGULS
A true home! My family and I have bounced around various locations over the years, but I really feel as though Park City is home for me.
By Chelsea Severn
