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WATERSKI MagazineThe travel pamphlets for central Utah are fond of claiming the area has “Something for Everyone.” Well, we've all heard that one before. But for skiers who visit the Beehive State, the phrase definitely holds water – in the form of Utah Lake.
Located just west of Provo, Utah Lake's 85,000 acres of fresh water make it the state's largest unsalted lake. The water, which pools at the end of the Provo River at the base of Mount Timpanogos, is Plexiglas-clear – and equally flat in some areas. Coupled with the vast open water, that means there are equal opportunities to either slice or shred when it comes time to buckle down the vest.
“It's really a fantastic place to ski if you know where to go,” says Brian Kaplar, who's been skiing Utah Lake for five years with his wife, Janet, and daughter, Angela. After launching at Utah State Park on the eastern side, skiers will find softly sloped banks around almost all of the 90-mile shoreline. A short stint at the helm heading south will land you in a small cove called Mud Lake. This is the best place to sink the tail of a slalom and carve.
Stick close to shore before the afternoon breezes kick up and you'll find long stretches for double-ups with the wakeboard or Air Chair. The openness of Utah Lake can cause some late-day churning, but as the sun starts setting, skiers will be more focused on the purple-hued Wasatch Mountains that loom large on the horizon. Although the mountains may have remnants of late-winter snow, the air and water temperatures from March to October hover in the 70s. – Tony Smith
