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As one of the rising stars in winter sports, Faye Gulini has craved more consistency and continuity in her professional life for the past few years.
On Friday morning at the State Capitol, she got it.
The Utah Sports Commission and the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association announced a joint partnership in creating the Utah Winter Action Sports Series, which is scheduled to begin in December.
Under the terms of the partnership, three resorts — Park City Mountain, Deer Valley, and The Canyons — will host a combined seven events, including halfpipe, skicross, snowboardcross, moguls and aerials.
The joint venture is scheduled to run in December, January and March, and will continue into the 2013-2014 season, with the added bonus of the 2014 U.S. Winter Olympic team being named in Utah as part of it.
For competitors, the partnership comes as welcome news, eliminating a great deal of doubt on a yearly basis.
"This is a really important development for us," said Gulini, a 2010 snowboardcross Olympian and Salt Lake City native. "It's important to know where the events are going to be from year to year, and exactly when they are going to be. Utah has the best snow in the country, the state loves winter Olympic sports, and this is a comfortable thing for me as well. I always do well in Utah, and this would give me a chance to sleep in my own bed."
With the 2014 Winter Games scheduled for Sochi, Russia, Friday's announcement acts as a precursor to the Olympics themselves. The deal, which has been in the works since last summer, was finalized on Monday.
Utah Gov. Gary Herbert was on hand for the announcement. With his involvement in seeing the partnership through, he made it clear that Utah, when the time comes, will bid for the 2022 Olympic Games.
"This is great for everyone involved," Herbert said. "We are investing in resorts because we believe in the future of Utah winter sports. We have the greatest outdoor recreation and winter sports in the world. We have a unique state with unique venues. The multi-year nature of the partnership makes it more attractive. We want this to continue." —
Utah Winter Action Sports Series
2012-2013 season
December 21-22 • Park City Mountain Resort (halfpipe skiing and snowboarding)
January 31-February 2 • Deer Valley Resort (moguls, dual moguls and aerials)
March 1-3 • (skicross and snowboardcross)