Note: This is a sponsored post by Utah Olympic Park.
With the 2018 Winter Games underway in PyeongChang, South Korea, it’s time once again for Utahans and visitors to catch Olympic fever right here in the Beehive State. Utah’s Olympic Legacy Venues—The Utah Olympic Oval, The Utah Olympic Park, and Soldier Hollow Nordic Center—continue to be important training, competition and centers that inspire, educate and entertain the public through sport and public offerings.
Because these historic locations were maintained as key training and competition sites for athletes from the around the globe, Utahns will watch with pride as 77 athletes of the 242-member US Olympic Team in PyeongChang compete with connection to Utah and 16 members of Team USA were born and raised here. But the beauty of Utah’s Olympic Legacy venues is that you don’t have to be a word-class athlete to have your own Olympic experiences.
1. Skate on the fastest ice on Earth at The Utah Olympic Oval
Many of the records set in speed skating during the 2002 Winter Games in Salt Lake City still stand today. The Utah Olympic Oval is a training center for future Olympians and, in the recent run up to the PyeongChang Olympics, the site of thrilling international competitions in both short- and long-track speed skating. But you need not be Apollo Ohno to enjoy this legendary ice rink and get your own chance to skate on the fastest ice on Earth. The oval offers public skating, hosts youth and adult classes and leagues in speed skating, hockey, curling, figure skating and you can watch top athletes in training. And, when the weather outside is cold, the Oval’s indoor track attracts runners who want to train through the winter months.
2. Experience bobsled thrills at The Utah Olympic Park
Unless you are in PyeongChang right now and have spent your life training to bobsled, chances are you have never experienced the thrill off sledding down an icy track in a real bobsled. This is not the sledding hill of your youth! The Utah Olympic Park offers bobsled experiences on the same track that witnessed bobsled, skeleton and luge events in 2002. And, if that sounds like too much excitement for you, the Olympic Park has activities for all ages including a challenging rope course and drop tower, free museums dedicated to Utah’s ski history and Olympic Legacy and more.
3. Ski the track (or just go tubing with the kids) at Soldier Hollow Nordic Center
Soldier Hollow Nordic Center was host for the thrilling 2002 Winter Olympic cross-country ski and biathlon competitions and continues to host both amateur and professional events in both sports. But did you know you can take a spin around the well-maintained, and multi-level track yourself? Soldier Hollow’s groomed trails are designed for both beginners and experts who want to get a great workout in a beautiful location and, while you are experiencing your own Olympic glory (or just getting your heart rate up), the kids can enjoy the tubing hill.
Are you planning to be in Park City this weekend? Come experience running gates, Nordic ski jumping and freestyle/freeride skiing just like the Olympians at the Utah Olympic Park.
When: February 24th 10am to 1pm
Ages: 4th & 5th Grade
Cost: $25 Per Skier
Register @ ParkCitySS.ORG
