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Feb 22
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Best Age to Teach Kids to Ski or Board

By Adventures, Outdoors

At what age should parents teach their kids to ski or snowboard? There is no firm answer. A lot of factors come into play, with opportunity being one. Parents who ski or snowboard are more likely to start their children at a younger age. It also depends on the child and the weather. February and March tend to be warmer and more comfortable for young students. So, should it be at age 3, when they are learning to kick a ball? Maybe 6, when children start learning right from left and how to tie their shoes? Or even 15, when some start working and can earn money for their own ski and snowboard passes?

Age 3, consensus seems to be, is a good start for kids and skiing—that’s the starting age for many ski schools. For snowboarding, kids younger than 5 often have trouble getting the mechanics of standing sideways on a board, and the recommend starting age is 7.

But if you really want to give your kid and early start in boarding, Burton’s Riglet Park program at Snowbasin introduces them to the sport at ages 3–6.

Maggie Loring, director of the Snowbird Ski/Snowboard School says to train youngsters in snowboarding “instructors put a leash on the snowboard and pull the student in an enclosed area with bumps and very simple obstacles to introduce them to snowboarding.”

One of the main hurdles children face in learning to ski or snowboard is parents who are in a rush to get their child on difficult black diamond slopes. Often these actions result in a skiing/snowboarding experience that turns into tears.

John Guay, director of ski services at Deer Valley, said it’s better to keep youngsters on gentle runs and focus on narrowing the wedge into a parallel and teaching control, turning and stopping.

“One of our biggest challenges is communicating with parents as to why we keep children on easier terrain and to encourage them to turn more with their feet and less with their body,’’ he adds.

Young children tend to turn from the head down and the last parts to move are their feet. Getting them to turn on skis or a snowboard requires training in learning how children think, talk and respond. In order to teach young children, instructors have to reach deep into how a child views of the world, the way they talk and words they best understand.

Few children, for example, understand terms like wedge, parallel and weighting. A wedge to young children looks like a piece of pizza; skis that are side-by-side in a parallel look like two French fries; and weighting a ski in order to turn is easier to understand if the instructor tells the student to squash a spider under one foot.

So, in skiing, instructors stress “Pizza Pie,’’ “French Fries,’’ and introduce a wide range of games like “Red Light, Green Light,’’ “Simon Says’’ and “Follow the Leader’’ to make learning fun, understandable and instructional.

As for how to teach young children to ski or snowboard, start with a professional instructor.

Parents may know how to ski or snowboard, but relaying those skills in a language and a way children understand can be very difficult, which results in slow progress, bad habits and bad experiences. And, children have a tendency to “tune out’’ parents.

The Professional Ski Instructors of America-American Association of Snowboard Instructors have been working for more than three decades, says Olsen, to better understand how best to teach children. The PSIA-AASI, in fact, has introduced a special instructional level called “Child Specialist,’’ which requires special training in child development, teaching steps for children and communication skills. At Deer Valley, for example, most of the instructors have gone through the specialist schooling.

Loring recommends parents look into multiple-day programs, “which are very reasonable and more beneficial.’’

All 14 resorts in Utah offer introductory programs for children. For details contact the resort of choice. For contact information visit skiutah.com.

Feb 22
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SEC Fines LDS Church For Hiding $32 Billion In Assets: Timeline

By City Watch

Today, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announces it is fining the Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-Day Saints and its investment arm, Ensign Peak Advisors, $1 million and $4 million, respectively, for a scheme to conceal the value of the church’s assets. The SEC order shows that the LDS Church’s investment firm, with the knowledge of its First Presidency, used shell companies to obscure the church’s investment wealth. Based on the order, the motivation appears to be saving face, over fear that public knowledge of the church’s wealth would lead to negative consequences in light of the size of the church’s portfolio. 

The LDS Church responded with a statement claiming these “mistakes” have been addressed and that they have been in compliance with federal disclosure laws since June 2019. This newfound compliance with the law came shortly after an IRS whistleblower complaint revealed the church’s holdings are valued around $100 billion. 

So, how did we get here? Here’s a timeline outlining the events leading up to the SEC’s investigation and eventual penalty for the LDS Church’s illegal financial reporting practices. 

1997

The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-Day Saints creates Ensign Peak to manage the church’s investment assets. At its inception, Ensign Peak initially managed approximately $7 billion of church assets, according to the SEC order, a significant percentage of which consisted of Section 13F Securities. The portion of 13F Securities in the portfolio grew to approximately $37.8 billion by 2020. Investment managers who oversee a portfolio of public equities above a certain threshold are required to file Forms 13F with the SEC quarterly. These forms disclose the names of the securities and their values.

1998

Senior management at Ensign Peak are made aware of Ensign Peak’s requirement to file Forms 13F and communicate this requirement to senior leadership of the church, according to the SEC. 

The SEC order states: “Throughout its history, at least once each year, Ensign Peak’s Managing Director met with the senior leadership of the Church to discuss Ensign Peak’s activities, including the LLC Structure. Unanimous approval from the senior leadership of the Church was required before Ensign could deviate from the LLC Structure and file Forms 13F in Ensign Peak’s own name.”

2000s

With approval from The First Presidency of the LDS Church, Ensign Peak establishes the first of its shell companies (LLCs) that each file Forms 13F instead of a single aggregated filing. The SEC order states this is because “The Church was concerned that disclosure of the assets in the name of Ensign Peak, a known Church affiliate, would lead to negative consequences in light of the size of the Church’s portfolio.”

Church leaders, including then-president Elder Gordon B. Hinckley, continue to tell members and the public that all of the church’s assets are “money-consuming and not money-producing assets.”

April 2003

After the church earmarks the money for the City Creek shopping center, President Hinckley tells members at the LDS General Conference, “We have felt it imperative to do something to revitalize this area. But I wish to give the entire Church the assurance that tithing funds have not and will not be used to acquire this property. Nor will they be used in developing it for commercial purposes.”

March 2005

According to the SEC order, the LDS Church becomes aware that the public might link this first LLC to the church because the person signing the Forms 13F is listed in a public directory as a Church employee. To address this issue, the senior leadership of the Church approves a new shell company to be created with “better care being taken to ensure that neither the ‘Street’ nor the media [could] connect the new entity to Ensign Peak.” 

May 2011

The church’s senior leadership approves Ensign Peak’s recommendation to “clone” the second LLC to create new Form 13F filers, after Ensign Peak expresses concern that its portfolio was so large that the filings under the name of the second shell company might attract unwanted attention. The order outlines that the church’s investment firm creates five new entities under which to make 13F filings. 

2014

The Church Audit Department (CAD) conducts the first of two internal audits of Ensign Peak (the second audit in 2017). In discussions with senior management, CAD highlights the risk that the SEC might disagree with the approach of the LLC Structure.

November 2015

Ensign Peak forms six additional clone LLCs, bringing the total to 12 shell companies, after Ensign Peak became aware that a third party appeared to have connected the holdings of various LLCs back to Ensign Peak. The order states that the senior leadership of the Church approves a plan to “gradually and carefully adapt Ensign Peak’s corporate structure to strengthen the portfolio’s confidentiality.”

May 2018

The Truth and Transparency website links various entities to the Church, their filings revealing holdings of approximately $32 billion. Following the report, two Ensign Peak business managers resign, voicing concerns about what they had been asked to do. 

The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-Day Saints issues a press release, Church Finances and a Growing Global Faith, claiming that the Church uses it resources for religious and charitable causes and those resources come principally from the tithing donations of Church members with a small portion of funds from businesses maintained by the Church. It goes on to say that the church sets aside money for its reserves, which include “stocks and bonds, taxable businesses, agricultural interests and commercial and residential property,” and those reserves are overseen by Church leaders and managed by professional advisers. 

November 2019

David A. Nielsen, a former money manager at Ensign Peak, the investment management branch of the Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-Day Saints, files a whistleblower complaint with the IRS. First reported by The Washington Post, Nielsen claims that Ensign Peak had a $100 billion reserve portfolio from stockpiling charitable donations rather than using them for charitable purposes—possibly breaching federal tax rules. The whistleblower complaint accuses LDS church leaders of misleading members about how their donations are spent. (Members are encouraged to donate 10% of their earnings as tithings to the church to remain in good standing and participate in religious ceremonies and services in its temples.) The complaint also accuses the church of using the tax-exempt donations for business ventures like the City Creek shopping center. 

December 2019  

After the whistleblower complaint makes headlines, The First Presidency of the LDS Church responds to the with a statement: 

“We take seriously the responsibility to care for the tithes and donations received from members. The vast majority of these funds are used immediately to meet the needs of the growing Church including more meetinghouses, temples, education, humanitarian work and missionary efforts throughout the world. Over many years, a portion is methodically safeguarded through wise financial management and the building of a prudent reserve for the future. This is a sound doctrinal and financial principle taught by the Savior in the Parable of the Talents and lived by the Church and its members. All Church funds exist for no other reason than to support the Church’s divinely appointed mission. 

Claims being currently circulated are based on a narrow perspective and limited information. The Church complies with all applicable law governing our donations, investments, taxes, and reserves. We continue to welcome the opportunity to work with officials to address questions they may have.”

February 2020

Roger Clarke, the head of Ensign Peak, tells The Wall Street Journal that LDS leaders wanted to keep the church’s $100 billion reserve a secret because they were afraid, upon seeing the church’s amassed wealth, some members might stop paying tithing. “[Paying tithing] is more of a sense of commitment than it is the church needing the money,” said Clarke “So they never wanted to be in a position where people felt like, you know, they shouldn’t make a contribution.”

March 2020

For the first time, Ensign Peak publicly discloses the earnings and investments of the LDS Church’s largest stock portfolio, filing a consolidated Form 13F for the quarter ended in December 31, 2019, rather than under the names of separate LLCs. The 13F Securities are valued at approximately $37.8 billion. 

November 2022

Canadian Broadcasting Corporation’s “The Fifth Estate” reveals, since 2007, the LDS church has raised in Canada more than $1 billion (CAD) and sent it from the Canadian church to BYU. That’s about 70% of the tithing money collected from Canadian members.

January 2023

Whistleblower David A. Nielsen calls on the Senate to investigate the LDS Church and Ensign Peak Advisors for tax fraud. He files a 90-page memorandum with the Senate Finance Committee, obtained by Religion Unplugged, which shows “evidence of false statements, systematic accounting fraud” and violations of tax laws. It goes on to say, “For at least 22 years, [Ensign Peak] and certain senior executives have perpetrated an unlawful scheme that relies on willfully and materially false statements to the IRS and the SEC, so this for-profit, securities investment business that unfairly competes with large hedge funds can masquerade as a tax-exempt, charitable organization.” 

February 2023

The Wall Street Journal reports that the SEC is investigating Ensign Peak for allegedly concealing its multibillion-dollar portfolio for years.

Two weeks later, the SEC files an order and sends out a press release, announcing charges against the Church for these violations. To settle the charges, Ensign Peak agrees to pay a $4 million penalty and the LDS Church agrees to pay a $1 million penalty.

Gurbir S. Grewal, Director of the SEC’s Division of Enforcement, says, “We allege that the LDS Church’s investment manager, with the Church’s knowledge, went to great lengths to avoid disclosing the Church’s investments, depriving the Commission and the investing public of accurate market information. The requirement to file timely and accurate information on Forms 13F applies to all institutional investment managers, including non-profit and charitable organizations.”

The church issues a statement in response to the settlement with the SEC, saying in part: 

“In June 2019, the SEC first expressed concern about Ensign Peak’s reporting approach. Ensign Peak adjusted its approach and began filing a single aggregated report. Since that time, 13 quarterly reports have been filed in full accordance with SEC requirements.

This settlement relates to how the forms were filed previously. Ensign Peak and the Church have cooperated with the government over a period of time as we sought resolution.

We affirm our commitment to comply with the law, regret mistakes made, and now consider this matter closed.”

Feb 21
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Exploring Mezcal: So Much More Than Smoke

By After Dark, Eat & Drink

Every alcohol enthusiast goes through stages of maturation. First, you reach for something sickly sweet that masks any and all indication that you’re actually consuming booze. Once you’ve had enough hangovers to ward off anything labeled “flavored” (never utter the words ‘“UV Blue” near me), next comes the era of the Big Six: vodka, whiskey, brandy, gin, rum and tequila. Many people might rest comfortably in this phase, but for those who wish to expand their palettes, they push through to explore more complex distillates. One such spirit, offering both sophisticated flavor and diverse application, is Mezcal. 

Mezcal is far from the new kid on the block, but it’s only recently been gaining appreciation from the masses. This year, agave spirit sales surpassed that of U.S.-made whiskeys and are expected to overtake vodka by 2023, according to research by the International Wines and Spirits Record. Despite its growing consumer base, the spirit still struggles to shake its reputation as an “overwhelming, smoky tequila.” Luckily, local libations experts are working to change that. 

Tracy Gomez
Tracey Gomez

Director of the United States Bartenders’ Guild (USBG) Utah Chapter Tracey Gomez first tasted Mezcal at a pollinator awareness event in Seattle—it was love at first sip. “I thought ‘what am I tasting? This is crazy!’” Her taste buds alight, she followed the flavor down to Oaxaca to meet local producers and see first-hand how Mezcal is made. Generations of Mezcaleros have passed down techniques steeped in tradition, and only ten states in Mexico comprise the entirety of spirit production. On their palenques, earthen ovens fill the air with roasted aromas, mules pull stone wheels crushing agave and open-air fermentation tanks utilize the climate’s wild yeast in the air. Each aspect anchors Mezcal to place, it’s as much a terroir elixir as wine. 

Gomez marvels at Mezcal’s ability to reflect its origins “To this day when I taste Mezcal, it transports me to those days in Oaxaca.” Her passion for the spirit goes beyond sipping, she also views Mezcal in a sociological way and encourages others to do the same. “As you drink it [Mezcal], pick out flavors like minerality and salinity. What can you deduce from those aromas about where it might come from?” she says. “Then, go further and learn about the people who made it, consider the impacts of your purchase.” 

Mezcal’s intrinsic connection to its producers gives consumers a peek into its ancestry, and it also makes tasting the spirit a lot more interesting. Mezcaleros make use of what’s regionally available, so even Mezcals made with the same agave variation might taste vastly different. Chocolate, mangos, hibiscus, apple, pork and lobster can be added to the still, imparting a breadth of complex flavors. Gomez’s personal favorite is a Turkey Pechuga, which she serves during holiday gatherings.

As even Gomez will say, the more you learn about Mezcal, the more you realize you don’t know. But for those starting out, she advises this: “in the spirit of Mexico, don’t get too nerdy about it.” Enjoy Mezcal neat with a cerveza on the side, sip past the smoke and sink into the flavors of Mexico.

Mezcal Vocabulary

Palenque: A Mezcal distillery

Mezcalero: A person who distills Mezcal

Copita: A cup used to serve and drink mezcal made from red clay 

Espadin: The most commonly grown agave species, accounting for nearly 90% of all mezcals 

Pechuga: A kind of mezcal infused with turkey or chicken breast during the distillation process 

Discover more unique spirits made right here in the Beehive State.

Feb 20
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Review: Larkin Poe and Goodnight, Texas at The Commonwealth Room

By Arts & Culture, Music

Like so many bands traveling between Denver and Salt Lake in the winter, white-out conditions on I-80 forced Larkin Poe to cancel their January date at The Commonwealth Room. They returned to share the love to a sold-out crowd on Valentine’s Day. They were, as their opening number suggests, “taking the long road. Ooh, diggin’ deep. We’re gonna strike gold.” On Tuesday night, they hit paydirt! They followed with “Kick the Blues,” and primed the packed house for a thrilling, rockin’ blues ride. Larkin Poe is a band made up of two sisters, Rebecca and Megan Lovell who have Georgia and Tennessee roots and play an electrifying style of blues and Southern-fried rock ‘n’ roll.

For me, Larkin Poe is at their best when they tap into that old-school blues sound. And as Rebecca Lovell explained, at every show they pay homage to the pioneers of that genre. With Rebecca Lovell playing lead guitar and vocals, accompanied by her sister, Megan, on lap steel guitar and vocals, and backed by drums and bass, they performed a 21st century rendition of Son House’s 1930s blues standard “Preacher’s Blues.” In the 1950s, Screamin’ Jay Hawkins wrote the new blues standard “I Put a Spell on You.” Shattering the hex seven decades later, Rebecca Lovell conjured up a future classic– from the spellbound perspective—and mesmerized the audience with “Bad Spell.” They teased us with the first few bars of Link Wray’s 1958 classic instrumental “Rumble” before launching into “Holy Ghost Fire.” The past and present collided with a thunderous musical explosion. 

Though anchored in the blues, Larkin Poe is at their core a southern rock ‘n’ roll band who play in 5th gear on an open highway. With only an electric guitar, a lap steel guitar, bass, and drums, Larkin Poe generated a piercing blast of down-home jams. “Blue Ridge Mountains,” “Summertime Sunset,” and “Southern Comfort” were high-octane, full-throttle numbers. “Wanted Woman” showed off the sisters’ guitar mastery and vocal dexterity.

The band downshifted long enough for Rebecca Lovell to show off her soulful voice with “Might as Well Be Me,” a great bluesy ballad. I’d like to see her explore more of this. The woman can sing the blues! She also writes great songs. “Mad as a Hatter,” a song she wrote when she was only 15 years old, describes her grandfather’s battle with mental illness and shares her fear that she might inherit his demons. Sometimes blues music isn’t just learned, it’s also experienced. 

They ended their 15-song set with “Bolt Cutters and The Family Name” and followed with an encore, “Deep Stays Down.” They embraced the old stage maxim: always leave your audience wanting more. That was certainly true of Tuesday night’s show. With so many great songs in their arsenal, and despite a full 16-song show, I hoped they’d play more from their impressive catalog.

Goodnight, Texas, opened the show with the vivid tune “Tucamcari,” imaging the windswept New Mexican town like a musical soundtrack from a gritty John Ford western. They reframed Dylan’s “I ain’t gonna work on Maggie’s Farm no more,” into a more realistic “I’m Going to Work on Maggie’s Farm Forever.” Goodnight, Texas’s reimagined farmworker is trapped in a work/poverty cycle and doesn’t have an option to leave the farm like Dylan’s protagonist. It’s a bitingly clever and well-constructed song. In all, they played nine stunning numbers. With their finale, “The Railroad,” you could almost hear the hammer strike the spike as they laid down the track. I wanted more. A short opening set just wasn’t enough. I’d love to see them again, this time, headlining in the State Room. I can imagine a number of great local Americana acts who could open for them. Judging from the crowd’s enthusiastic response, I know I’m not the only one.

Who: Larkin Poe w/Goodnight, Texas

What: Blood Harmony Tour

Where: The Commonwealth Room

When: February 14, 2023

Info: https://thestateroompresents.com

         www.larkinpoe.com

         www.hiwearegoodnighttexashowareyou.com

Feb 17
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First Bite: La Cevicheria

By Eat & Drink

When you think of ceviche, you probably don’t think of Mexican food. Well, the folks at La Cevicheria in downtown SLC want to change your mind. They have plenty of your Mexican favorites, but you do yourself a disservice if you don’t try at least one of their stellar ceviche dishes. Give them a shot, and they will convince you that Mexican ceviche is where it’s at. 

We stopped by on a chilly afternoon for an early dinner, walking out of the cold and into a tropical oasis. The restaurant is brightly lit and colored, just like you might expect in a Mexican beach town. With a lively soundtrack to keep the energy just upbeat enough but not so loud you can’t hear your dining companion. After the bitter cold we’ve had the last few weeks, it was a welcome reprieve. 

The service was some of the most attentive and fun I’ve experienced in ages. They obviously care about their customers and their food. Jordan was delightfully helpful and made some excellent recommendations, and I will echo those here. The Tacos Baja Fish and the Avocado Tuna Ceviche were stellar. 

La Cevicheria SLC
Photo by Lydia Martinez

Speaking of food, I may be a bit of a sucker for octopus in all its forms. We did not try the octopus ceviche this go around, but I can guarantee I will return to try it. We did, however, opt for the Pulpo Zarandeado, a grilled octopus dish served on top of a citrus and greens salad dressed with a magical special sauce and pico on the side. Grilled to perfection, it rivals any of the octopus dishes in the valley. I will be back for this. 

While the Avocado Tuna Ceviche was excellent, the Ceviche La Cevicheria was also some of the best I’ve had here in the city. Fresh salmon and tuna marinated in lime juice, tomatoes, onions, cilantro, and cucumbers with the house vinaigrette. All the ceviches are served with fresh, in-house-made tortilla chips perfectly fried to complement and support the ceviche.
The Tacos Baja Fish were your classic fish tacos. Perfectly breaded and fried, covered in a delicious homemade avocado and chipotle dressing with purple cabbage and pico. If you don’t add the pickled onions, you are missing out.
They have a solid selection of Mexican and local beers and some fantastic Tequilas. We opted for a Horchata De Fresa and Café De Olla instead on this trip. The strawberry horchata was refreshing despite the cold just feet away, so I opted for the Mexican spiced coffee. Their coffee with Mexican spices, chilis, and just a touch of sweetness may have convinced me to change up my own coffee brewing routine.

La Cevicheria SLC
Photo by Lydia Martinez

If you are in the downtown vicinity, swing by for lunch, or grab a bite before hitting up your favorite watering hole after work. I promise you; you won’t be disappointed. 

Feb 17
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Best Friends Introduces First-Ever Pet Awards

By Community

This year, Best Friends Society, a leading animal welfare organization, is creating their own cuter and fluffier version of the Oscars.

Best Friends Animal Society

Best Friends Animal Society is a non-profit organization that operates the nation’s largest sanctuary for homeless pets. With bases in Utah, California, Arkansas, Texas, Georgia, and New York the organization has been working together to end the euthanization of animals across America for almost 40 years. Best Friends is committed to providing safe shelter, medical care, and adoption services to animals in need, with the goal of finding permanent homes for as many animals as possible. They offer spay/neuter services, community cat programs, pet food pantries, and of course adoption. With two locations in Utah: Salt Lake City and the other in Kanab, stop by at your closest one and take a look at the adorable furballs that this sanctuary has to offer!

Adoptable Pet Awards

Slim, nominated for Best Costume. Photo courtesy of Best Friends

For the first time ever Best Friends is hosting an Adoptable Pet Awards to boost adoption rates for their pets. “This awards season, Best Friends wanted to come up with a fun and engaging campaign to help raise awareness for a handful of adoptable dogs and cats who have been in the shelter system for a significant amount of time,” says Julie Castle, CEO of Best Friends Animal Society. “Our hope is that the public will vote for their favorite lovable pet, as well as inspire people to get out there and adopt. The shelters and homeless pets need you.”  There will be 6 categories ranging from best action sequence to best supporting napper, with 4 pet-nominees for each category. Voting is now open and the results will be announced Friday, March 10th!

Visit here to vote and to get to know some of the adorable cats and dogs nominated!

Ares, nominated for Best Barker. Photo courtesy of Best Friends

Rosemary, nominated for Best Meower. Photo courtesy of Best Friends

No-Kill by 2025

No-kill animal organizations play an important role in the effort to reduce the number of animals that are euthanized each year and to promote the welfare of animals in the United States. Best Friend’s made a commitment in 2016 to ending all kill shelters across the states by the year 2025. Currently New Hampshire and Delaware are the only no-kill states in the U.S. Utah, which is considered a low-priority state, is still estimating at about 900 animal deaths occur per year  in the kill shelters that are still operating. There are also many smaller, locally-based no-kill animal organizations across the United States that work to address the needs of animals in their communities. A few of these no-kill shelters in Utah are Best Friends, Paws for Life, and The Humane Society. These organizations often rely heavily on donations and volunteers to operate, and may partner with other animal welfare organizations to provide a wide range of services to animals in need.Go to the Best Friends Animal Society website to donate today!

Go to the Best Friends Animal Society website to donate today!

From February 13 – 19, adoption fees at Best Friends Lifesaving Center in Salt Lake City are reduced to $14 in celebration of Valentine’s Day!

Feb 16
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Tips for Staying Warm in Utah Winter

By Adventures, Outdoors

While a TV reality show can set up winter condition survival scenarios and a web site can instruct you on how to build up the ultimate winter survival bug-out kit—let’s be clear—while apocalyptic White Walkers might not get you, being out and exposed to sub-freezing temperatures for too long without suitable protection and provisions will.

Tip 1 – Remember ‘the Rule of 3s’

  • The Rule of 3s reminds us that we can survive…

  • 3 minutes without breathable air or in icy water.

  • 3 hours in a harsh environment without shelter.

  • 3 days without drinkable water.

  • 3 weeks without food (but, that would suck).

And, while we can’t make promises, our belief is that knowledge (and common sense) is a powerful tool in any tribulation. Like someone venturing north of the wall in Game of Thrones, think of your body as a fortress, and the cold as the enemy which can enter and conquer in a myriad of ways. Do you build a moat? The answer, in this case, is no. However staying dry, seeking shelter and dressing in layers is strongly advisable.

Tip 2 – Layer, Layer (and Layer)

Leave your cotton hoodie or jeans at home. Freezing temps demand more insulating layers. For ventilation and warmth retention, fabrics made of wool, silk, or polypropylene inner layers hold body heat better than cotton. Below our cold survival expert, Christian Schauf, owner of Uncharted Supply Co., demonstrates how to layer for optimum insulation.

A good layering system consists of

  • 1. The Base Layer – Always wear a light, long sleeve base layer made of Merino wool or a fabric blend that keeps you warm and dry by wicking away moisture. Tuck things in, gaps between the waist and pants allow valuable heat to escape.

  • 2. The Mid-layer – Next is a thin mid-layer—either wool, polyester or a blend.

  • 3. The Puffy – This zippered jacket with a hood traps in the heat, and you’ll be glad you have it.

  • 4. The Outer Shell Layer – This should also be hooded and large enough to allow additional layers, the outer shell should be both water and wind-resistant and have adjustable openings for ventilation or to shut tight if needed.

Tip 3 – Stay Dry

If you are wet, try to get out of those wet clothes as soon as possible, an extra pair of clothing, puffy coat, hat, socks in a car could be very valuable. To stay dry, waterproof shoes/boots, wear gators, use tarps or plastic garbage bags. Sweating counts as getting wet, so while heat from excursion is good, sweating is not good as far as the keeping warm game is concerned.

Tip 4 – Cover your head

Did you ever hear that like a chimney, heat escapes out of your head more rapidly than anything else? It kinda makes sense, a hat keeps heats from escaping and there isn’t a pad of fat insulating the skull either.

Jack Egan from Stio.com shares, “a fleece hat can make all the difference. Fleece retains most of its heat when it’s wet, it’s super lightweight, quick-drying, and highly breathable.”

Stay warm SLC, and to read all our “In the Magazine” articles, go here.

Feb 15
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Diary Of A Never-Skier: Ski’s The Limit

By Adventures

After a brief warm-up on the bunny hills, I am set free during my third and final ski lesson at Alta Ski School. My instructor, Natalie, leads me to Alta’s new Sunnyside lift for the first, but not the last, time. The recently opened lift delivers skiers—whom I can now count myself among(!)—to Alta’s beginner slopes and will replace its ancestor, Albion lift. One glance at Albion’s scant, double-seater chairs (with not but a vertical bar between them) makes me grateful for Sunnyside’s spacious, cushioned benches and protective lap bar. 

(This is the fourth entry in the diary of a never-skier. Here are entries one and two and three.) 

The process of lining up and sliding through the turnstile fills me with the same giddiness and sensation of boarding a ride at Disneyland. Once on the lift and in the air, I start to get a sense of the enormity of Alta Ski Area and its runs. We also spy the most adorable ginger porcupine in a tree by the lift, and I take this to be a good omen. (Alta has binders containing facts about the local wildlife, hung in trees, throughout the beginner slopes for young skiers who want to learn more about the flora and fauna that they might spot while skiing.) 

When tackling the beginner runs (I’m told those are typically the green ones on the map), we start on Dipsy Doodle and then move to Crooked Mile (not once, but three times), which I learn is actually a mile long—a fact that my extremely fatigued legs can attest to. Skiing engages muscles in specific ways I have not previously experienced in my yoga or martial arts classes. While the occasionally steep sections can be a bit daunting, it’s the other skiers, soaring by effortlessly, who intimidate me the most. But, as the greenest skier on the slope, I like to think they’re probably just as scared of me as I am of them. 

At the end of it all, I’m happy to report I did not crash into anyone and I made it back to my car in one piece. Natalie was probably grateful for that as well, especially since, when I was tired, slowing down and slipping toward the end of my lesson, I informed her not to worry because “I’ll make it down this mountain one way or another!” Bless her for putting up with me for three weeks in a row. Pro tip: If you decide you want to learn to ski and go the same route I did (ski lessons, I mean), you’re encouraged to tip your ski instructor at the end of the lesson. I’m told 10-15% of the cost of the lesson is an appropriate tip. 

And that was it. I’m a skier now. For real. I want to keep doing it. Natalie recommended sticking to the Dipsy-Doodles and Crooked-Miles for my next few return visits, as well as closing out on the same run I used to warm up, and I will, but I’m also excited to join the wider world of skiing and its adjacent culture and events as well. Such as…

Aprés All Day

After my ski lessons, I was briefly introduced to the world of aprés ski at Alta Lodge, which is an institution in itself, where the Grilled Cheese is something of a classic and pairing it with a glass from their stellar wine list is the kind of juxtaposition I live for. Other options at Alta include Rustler Lodge, where the dining area is famous for its community tables—single diners and couples can request to be paired with other guests and make new friends over dinner. And, apparently, there is a bit of a rowdy après ski scene at the Alta Peruvian. 

Park City Life editor Tony Gill has compiled his favorite aprés-ski spots, and Salt Lake magazine has everything you need to know about winter in the Wasatch (including where to aprés) whether your basecamp is Salt Lake City, Park City or Ogden. 

Big Ski and Mountain Events

Now that I can get by on a pair of skis, there is a whole world of activities and events and experiences that I can access for the first time. Ski Utah tracks events at local resorts, like Brews and Tunes at Deer Valley, and loads of groups swarm the Wasatch for ski-centric events every season. 

Who knows, maybe you’ll see me on the slopes during Park City Queer Ski, Feb. 21-25, 2023, at the Saturday Pride Ride. Or at the 13th annual Elevation Utah in Park City for Gay Ski Week Feb. 24-26. If you want to join in, Canyons Village at Park City is at the center of the fun with a number of events that week: 

  • Disco Pizza: “A playful spin on the classic red sauce pizza joint, Disco Pizza is a mountainside go-to spot with signature and staple house-made pizzas, pasta and handmade milkshakes. On Friday, February 24, enjoy a specialty late-night ’70s/’80s disco-themed pizza party with DJ sets by DJ Liam, $4 slices of pizza and $4 cold beers.”

  • The Pool House Champagne Terrace: “Surround yourself with iconic panoramic mountain views at The Pool House, in partnership with Moët & Chandon, featuring curated bites and lively music. On Friday, February 24, enjoy sips and sets by DJ Bentley from 3-6 pm. On Saturday, February 25, in partnership with Apres House Co., cheers to an epic après ski party featuring sets by DJ Lux from 3-7 pm.”

  • Tea Dance at Canyons Village Base: “On February 24, Mike Akerman is leading an Umbrella Bar takeover with fire pits, a food truck and DJ Aaron Clark (Honcho) spinning italo vibes in the sun.”

I’m learning that there are so many ways to enjoy skiing. Did you guys know that skijoring was a thing? (I’m not sure if it’s pronounced “ski-joring” with a hard J or with a soft J, like “ski-yoring.” Hell, maybe it’s a short I and a hard J like “skidgering.”) Anyway, it involves strapping yourself into some skis and getting drawn by a horse. I could do that now. It’s happening up at Bear Lake right now. The 2023 Skijoring the Bear is Feb. 20 and the only barrier to entry I can see is a $100 entry fee. 

For other never-skiers like me, check out my prior diary entry for deals and discounts for beginners. I am open to any tips if you’re already a seasoned skier. What did you wish you had known your first few times out? How scary is it to see brand-new skiers on the hill? How do you keep your legs from getting so tired? Send your wise nuggets of ski knowledge to us @slmag on all the socials (Facebook|Instagram|Twitter) or email magazine@saltlakemagazine.com. Stay tuned for updates and further entries on saltlakemagazine.com.

Feb 09
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Build A Charcuterie Board with Maven Oak Creative

By Eat & Drink

If you want to skip the crowds on a Saturday night, opt for a stunning night in, complete with a bottle of wine and a grazing board. With a quick stop at the store, some cheese, cured meat and fruit create a beautiful board to share with that special someone. To make it easy for you, we talked with a pro—Nicole Simper from Maven Oak Creative, on how to build the perfectly romantic board. 

Nicole, the founder of Maven Oak Creative and self-styled “Platter Maven,” went to art school at the University of Utah and studied photography. “Right out the gate at 16, when I got a job, it was in the food industry. I’ve had every job under the sun,” she says. But it wasn’t until she did soul searching after a long trip she realized she could combine both loves: food and art.

Maven Oak Charcuterie
Founder of Maven Oak Creative Nicole Simper. Photo by Adam Finkle.

It’s food. It’s art.

When building the perfect board for sharing, Nicole has a few tips—starting with planning the perfect bite. “Variety is probably the biggest thing. Building your little bites is the whole beauty and fun of eating off a platter.” She also recommends mixing cheeses—one soft, one hard, and one that is a “surprise” so that your board isn’t monotonous. Think of blue cheese or a flavored cheese. Next, consider seasonality. What fresh fruits are in season? For example, in February, pomegranates are in season.

Finally, consider how everything on the board looks and tastes together.  For Valentine’s Day, “I feel like chocolate is brilliant, and probably strawberries,” says Nicole. “Got to bring those berries back out for sure. This is probably going to be a very red platter.”

‘The cheese will tell you what to do.’

Getting into the technical details of presenting the cheese on a board, Nicole assures, “the cheese will tell you.” On how to showcase it, she advises “If you try to slice a brie, it will be a hot mess. So I would just put a knife in it and call it a day. Harder cheeses, like manchego or anything aged, will slice easier. Cheddar can be more versatile. It can be cut and crumbled because the moisture content is not dry and it’s not soft. It’s somewhere in the middle.” But ultimately, “You don’t have to slice the cheese. It can just be the cheese with a knife, and that’s enough. So ask the cheese.”

Local ingredients

We’re lucky to have some fantastic local purveyors here in Utah. Here are a few of the local products Nicole recommends for a board:

•Caputos for anything from olives, meats, crackers, local jams and cheeses

•Creminelli for salamis and cured meats

•Local Cheeses: Beehive Cheese, Park City Creamery, Heber Valley Cheese

•Cache Canning & Ferments for pickles & chutney

•Ritual Chocolate 

Maven Oak Charcuterie
Custom made personalized board
Boards start at $111 and include the board and food staging. 

Pairings:

Up the romance with a good wine pairing to accompany your board. “A nice juicy red would be fun, but I would go with a sparkling. Keep it effervescent and light because sparkling pairs well with chocolate,” says Nicole. “Let’s say a sparkling wine of your choice. Prosecco. Or sparkling rosé.”

Not ready to build your own board? Nicole and Maven Oak Creative can do that for you with 48 hours notice. Platters are available for pick up or delivery. 

The perfect Valentine’s Day Board Combo

•2-3 cheeses

•1-2 meats

•Chocolate

•2-3 seasonal fruits

•Something sweet 

•Something tart 

•Bread, crackers
or crisps

Grazing Board Guidance

Cheese Pairings

•Double Cream Brie +
Beehive Cheddar + Feta

•Manchego + Drunken
Goat + Mahon

•Burrata + Parmigiano
Reggiano + Gorgonzola

Sweet Things

•Jams

•Honey 

•Chutney

•Dried Fruit

•Membrillo

•Chocolate

•Fresh Berries or Fruit

Tart Things

•Pickles

•Pickled Vegetables

•Olives or Tapenade

•Mustards 

•Capers 

Garnishes

•Edible Flowers

•Nuts

•Fresh Herbs

•Honeycomb

•Jam or Chutney Jars

Maven Oak Creative (Located inside Bitters Lab) 850 S. 400 West, SLC, @mavenoakcreative