SUNDANCE -- Usually, movies and skiing have little in common past, maybe, a thrilling chase sequence focused on jumping off cliffs to a background of gunfire.
With Sundance it's different. With the release or re-release of every Robert Redford movie, area personnel say they notice an increased flow in out-of-town visitors, which isn't difficult considering 85 percent of its skier business is "locals."They come, maybe, to grab a glimpse of the movie icon. Or ski the runs he skis, eat in the restaurants he eats or simply see what he's built.
What he's built is a ski area that has subtly gone from a family-run-for-fun area to a four-season resort . . . It's not large, not overwhelming, simply accommodating, the staff are quick to point out.
"It's all part of Bob's (owner Robert Redford) vision," said Jerry Warren, director of skiing and mountain operations, as he thought for a moment to explain exactly what that vision is. "It's been a struggle to interpret Bob's thoughts, to find out what our objective is year after year."
That vision is to grow, albeit slowly and with planning, always keeping in mind the historic character of the area.
"You'll note at the bottom (of the resort)," continued Warren, "we have only one lift. For an area manager it's unnerving to only have one lift to access the mountain. But, it goes with the vision of moving away from the mechanical and creating programs that do not violate the human experience. The building we're in was built four years ago, but it looks like it was built 100 years ago."
It's new snowmaking system is another example of cautious, deliberate development. Warren admitted it was a nine-year struggle to get approval.
"It's probably not a big thing, most areas in the country already have snowmaking, but for us it's a statement of our commitment to change," he explained. "It only covers to midmountain, but what it meant to us is we are now able to guarantee that Sundance will be open. We couldn't always say that. In fact, this year, if we didn't have snowmaking we wouldn't have been open one day in December."
Redford purchased about 6,000 acres, which included a small ski area called Timphaven, 30 years ago. It held one rickety chair lift, one rope tow and a small burger shop called "Ki-Te-Kai-Maori" or "Come and get it." He took 450 acres and designated it skiable terrain, then envisioned keeping the other land open and primitive.
He bought the land, he once recalled, "for environmental conservation and artistic experimentation."
A decade late he introduced the Sundance Institute based on his vision of artistic expression. It has grown into a world-attended opportunity for young film artists to learn and display their talents.
Trying to break away from the glitter of blinding stars and flashing figures on the screen, Warren admitted trying to gain recognition as a ski area has not been easy.
Sundance has become synonymous with movies.
"In some of the surveys we've done," said Warren, "we asked what people think of when they hear the name Sundance. They're aware of the arts and say things like, 'and I think they have skiing there, too, but I'm not sure.' It's difficult when you're so well known in one area."
The next big step in Sundance's development came in 1988 when it faced the fact that local traffic was great, but what was missing was on-mountain accommodations.
Here, too, the Redford vision came through. Instead of a high-rise building with lobby and conference center, 93 cabin-like guest cottages were built, along with an independent one-level conference center.
Nothing stands taller than the trees, nothing is overpowering; the layout is subtle and unobtrusive.
Four years ago, around the time Warren returned to the Provo Canyon resort, Sundance began looking at itself as four-season retreat, to including biking, hiking and summer camps.
In line with that, Warren recently announced Sundance's All-Season Pass.
On sale now, it goes into effect on March 1. The pass then becomes a season ski pass through closing on April 9, then reverts to a lift pass during the summer for biking and hiking opportunities in the foothills of Mount Timpanogos. Then, when the leaves turn and the snow falls again, it becomes a full ski season pass for 2000-2001. Cost of the adult pass is $425. A second family pass is $375 and subsequent family passes are $225.
As with everything at Sundance, outdoor use of the area reflects "Bob's vision" to respect the environment and the historic character of the area.