So, I told you about my little mishap on the mountain at Snowbasin near Ogden, but well before that, when we were still in Park City, I had the chance to check out a World Cup dual mogul competition at Deer Valley.

Now I won’t pretend that I have a background in ski racing or even know every competitor, but man, what a scene it was on the slopes that night. There were a couple thousand people there to watch the pros ski the bumps, and the fact that it was a dual event – meaning two people going side by side down the hill – not only turned up the intensity but made it easy to follow. And I really gained a new respect for just how elite these athletes are. They make it look easy, but when you’re on the mountain that same day and try to ski the way they do, it puts it all in perspective. Here’s a glimpse of what I’m talking about (the video shows the atmosphere and a single-run mogul event, but you can see a dual-mogul run from Finland here):

It’s never a bad idea to be in a ski town while it hosts an event, whether it’s moguls or pipe. You don’t even have to really understand what’s happening; the occasion serves as an excuse to go, if nothing else, and the competitions usually bring a buzz to the mountain, both on and off the slopes.

For a list of upcoming ski and snowboard competitions that I think are worth the trip, including infamous mountains such as Vail, Kirkwood, Canyons, and Snowbird, check out my recent article on Travel and Escape. Here are a few photos of the World Cup at Deer Valley: