Watch: Snowboarders Get a Taste of Alta

Boasting the title of one of Utah’s oldest ski areas, Alta is known for many things. Steep terrain, blower pow, and maybe most notoriously⏤no snowboarders allowed. Initially, snowboarders were allowed at Alta. The ban for many resorts came in 1981, but Alta still allowed snowboarders to ride the lifts on little skis and switch to a board at the top, riding down ungroomed terrain. Only three years later, Alta banned snowboarders completely and the mountain quickly incorporated the ban into their marketing. However, when the resort closed in March, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they opened uphill access. With no lifties or ski patrol to enforce the rule, snowboarders were free to hike up the mountain and finally get a taste of Alta. Silver Linings tells the story of Alta’s no snowboarding history as well as a few of the riders and their days seeing what this corner of Little Cottonwood Canyon has to offer.