A couple of weeks ago the Sundance Film Festival announced the lucky films that will be screened during the 2009 Sundance Film Festival.

What’s amazing is the competition for film categories.  Take the Documentary Category where this year’s 16 films were selected from 879 submissions with each film is a world premiere. 

One of the films that has been getting some attention from this category is Good Hair(Director: Jeff Stilson).  Comedian Chris Rock turns documentary filmmaker when he sets out to examine the culture of African-American hair and hairstyles. I’m not for certain but I think this is the first time Chris is involved with a film at Sundance.  Correct me if I’m wrong.

Park City TV’s blog has an all inclusive list of the films by categories with a couple of sentances about each film. It’s worth checking out if you’re looking for the listings and a little guidance for what Sundance Film to catch. 

There are still tickets available to various films to don’t give up if you’re looking to catch some.

UPDATE: If you want to see the trailer for the Chris Rock film GOOD HAIR, click here.

By way of the calendar, winter has officially arrived.  But you wouldn’t need a calendar to know that here in Utah the skiing is off the charts good and winter is in full swing.  Today at Solitude the first wave of the storm laid down 9″ by 3pm!

Nick and Jay from Solitude Mountain Resort sent us some photos showing just how good it was today.

If you like sunny warm spring type skiing, this is not the time for you to be in Utah.  But if you’re into that ultra light and dry powder that Utah is so famous for, it’s time to pack your bags and get out here!

Solitude Mountain Resort Snow Stats:

New Snow – 9” (as of 3 PM – more on the way)
48 Hour: 11”
24 Hour: 9”
Mid-Mtn. Base: 44”
Season Total: 115”

There’s nothing quite like Old Town Park City anywhere in Utah.  In fact, it’s pretty unique regardless of where you look.  Aspen may come close in some aspects, Breck has some similar spots, but the geograhpically small area that is Old Town Park City tucked in between two mountains is magical.

If you’ve not stayed in old town for a ski holiday you should put it on your list of to-do’s. Waking from a home to Main Street for an elegant or home style dinner, perhaps a ski-in-ski out location, seeing the town lift rise above the back deck of your accomodations….it’s really pretty cool.

Aside from those benefits, I really like the slow pace that is tangible around Old Town.  Along with this is the friendly nature of those that live there year round and the many visitors that come to ski.

Utah Vacation Homes recently added Empire #3 to it’s collection of vacation homes in the Old Town area.  It has 3 bedrooms and 3 baths, a private hot-tub (a must for post ski and pre-dinner relaxing) and is an easy walk to Park City Mountain Resort and all of their amenities.

Perhaps I’m wrong about Old Town, but its charm and allure has cast a spell on me.  Am I the only one?

If you’re coming to ski in Utah this January, specifically January 8th, you should consider spending that day at Sundance.  Even more so if you’re planning on renting your skis or snowboards from our friends at Canyon Sports. Here’s why:

On Saturday, August 16, 2008, Christian and Stephanie Nielsen were in a small plane crash along with their flight instructor, Doug Kinnear, near St. Johns, Arizona.

Sadly, Doug Kinnear passed away soon after arriving at the Maricopa County Hospital. Christian is now recovering from home while Stephanie still remains in the hospital. (Christian has sustained burns on over 30% of his body, his wife Stephanie’s body was burned over 80%. )

Stephanie was a ski instructor at Sundance and so it is that skiers are rallying to help out.

Additionally, over the past four years Stephanie has maintained a blog, the NieNie Dialogues about her life at home as a wife and mom. It has become very popular, and since this accident it is now receiving 30,000 hits per day. Their story was featured on a local television newscast, MSNBC ran a story and People Magazine published an article, so there has been a lot of interest both locally and nationally about this family’s plight.

In the end, and despite how rough and insensitive the world can often be, skiers and bloggers are a tight knit bunch and support one another, especially in tough times.

The Deal:

Canyon Sports and Sundance Resort are hoping to do something substantial with this event to raise enough money that will alleviate some of the financial concern and hardship on the family. They have organized a ski day at Sundance Ski Resort to be held on January 8th with all proceeds will be donated to the Nielsens’ recovery fund.

With a donation of $100 you can enjoy a day on the slopes at Sundance with complimentary lunch from the Pizza Factory and ski/snowboard rentals from Canyon Sports.

Aside from the opportunity being limited, it’s more than a good cause so please help spread the word and if you’re able to, go today to the SKI FOR NIE website to donate and reserve your spot on the 8th.

It’s no surprise that most of the action and attention for skiing and snowboarding here in Utah happens in either Park City or in one of the two Cottonwood Canyons. For local skiers and snowboarers, especially those in the Ogden area, that’s just fine.

Over the past few years Snowbasin Resort to the north of Salt Lake has quietly been developing what I belive is Utah’s best kept secret in skiing.  Those that visit Snowbasin for a day of skiing often come away wondering why they haven’t gone there sooner.

Located about 1 hour from Park City and 45 minutes from Salt Lake, I’ve skied there at about 10 times over the past few years and each time I go I ask myself the same question – Why didn’t I come here last week?

As I’ve gotten to know Snowbasin, I wanted to share a few tips in case it’s your first time headed there.

1. Ski the Olympic Downhill course (from the 2002 Winter Olympics) especially if it’s been freshly groomed.  What a blast!
2. Eats – the food at Snowbasin rivals anything I’ve eaten at any resort, Deer Valley included.  Hit the John Paul lodge for a view that you’ll not soon forget, along with the food.
3. Main Street off of the Strawberry Express Gondola is a great run that I never tire of skiing
4. Want a challenge?  Don’t miss Easter Bowl off of the John Paul Express
5. Dan’s run often hides stashes of powder late into the day.  Skiers right is the better of this wandering trail

Check out Snowbasin’s trail maps – including a Garmin trail map download.

Bear Hollow is a very nice little community located half way between Kimball Junction and The Canyons Resort in Park City, Utah.  I’ve blogged about Bear Hollow in the past and specifically about the variuos condos, townhomes and homes that Utah Vacation Homes has to offer.

This past month we added yet another home to the mix – Bear Hollow #11.  This home with 4 bedroom, 3.5 baths sleeps 12 making it a great ski vacation home for multiple families, couples or families with children.  The privacy of staying in your own home this close to shopping, dining, skiing and other activities is hard to beat.

I used to live just down the street from Bear Hollow so I know just how nice the location is.

There is a trail that you can walk or possibly cross country ski on which passes through Bear Hollow and ends at Kimball Junction in one direction and passes by The Canyons and in towards Park City in the other direction.  Late night strolls in the summer or winter will make you feel like you’re far away from the busy life. After all, isn’t that what a vacation should do?

Here are a couple of images of the property.  To see the rest, check out the Bear Hollow #11 page.