Warm weather cancels final Town Series race at Olympic Park

Ski competitions grind to a halt on the Wasatch Back. Photo: Alex Moliski

PARK CITY, Utah — A low-snow winter has brought an early end to the Town Series season, with organizers canceling the final alpine and skimo race scheduled for Friday, March 27.

The Town Series, organized by the Park City Ski & Snowboard Club, is a long-running community race program designed for all ages and ability levels. The series typically spans the winter months, offering a mix of alpine, uphill (skimo), and Nordic-style events that emphasize accessibility, participation, and local racing culture.

Charles Christianson, who posted the fastest time across the three completed races to lead the individual standings, said the series delivered despite the shortened season. “Big thanks to the PCSS for putting on a great community event that brings back the fun of ski racing with friends. I am happy to have gone fast and even happier to have ended the season in one piece!”

This year, however, inconsistent snowfall and warm temperatures made it difficult to maintain race conditions through the final stretch of the season.

In a statement, organizers said they were grateful to the Utah Olympic Park snow venue operations team, which worked to try to “salvage” the season despite challenging conditions. They also thanked sponsors and participants who registered for the final race, noting that refunds are being issued.

The struggles faced by the Town Series mirror broader impacts across local winter recreation programs. The final race of the Wasatch Citizen Series, a community Nordic race circuit organized by the Utah Nordic Alliance, was also canceled earlier this season due to lack of snow.

“The snow didn’t stick together, but we did,” was written on the website of Wasatch Citizen Series, which is organized each year by The Utah Nordic Alliance.

Their season ended with a pivot to a Ski Your Own Race format encouraging participants to find snow and ski a 5k, or to roller ski, run, hike, or bike if winter wasn’t cooperating.

For Park City’s Town Series, the season may not have finished as planned, but its core mission carried through a winter that tested snowpack across the region.