Solitude Mountain Resort has provided snow enthusiasts with a variety of downhill pleasures to feed their diverse desires for 65 years. The range starts with groomed bunny slopes and runs the gamut to gate access to steep black diamond free riding. Even with this impressive range, there has been something missing and in the fall of 2022 Solitude assessed, then address that gap.
In preparation for opening day, hot wax was being poured on rails in October. Terrain Park manager, Tyler Sites, promises, “there will never be a sticky rail in the park.” Features will range in size from small to medium. As of right now, the Main Street park has four boxes, four beginner rails, four large rails and two jumps. North Star park will house features like spines, hips, table tops and jumps.
“You can have a lot of fun in a small to medium park if you build it right,” Sites says referring to his brainchild. He goes further in his assurances saying there will be no shortage of creativity spent on the design. There has also been an abundance of foresight as Solitude sees the small features as an opportunity for families to bond. Wider rails and boxes will act as great entry-level features for kids who are there learning under the guidance of their still-get-after-it parents. The medium features will include smaller rails with kinks that can help riders dial in skills and translate them to the streets.
For anyone who rides Solitude, you have to find gratitude in an old bird’s ability to learn a new trick.
