Park Record
Park City and Summit County News
2024 was another special year in the world of Park City sports.
Parkite skiing legend Lindsey Vonn announced her return to the sport, Olympic runner Grant Fisher became the first American man to double-podium the 5,000- and 10,000-meter races at the Paris Games and much more.
In this year-in-review article, we’ll take a look back at some of the stories and events that made this year one to remember.
Vonn announces her return to professional skiing
On Nov. 14, skiing legend Lindsey Vonn announced her return to professional skiing after a nearly-six year retirement.
Vonn had retired due to a slew of injuries in 2019. She had her latest surgery, a partial knee replacement, in April.
Feeling healthy in training for the first time in years and inspired by the later-age successes of athletes like LeBron and Tom Brady, Vonn decided it was time to give things another go. The 40 year old didn’t lay out any specific goals, instead saying she just wants to enjoy her comeback to the slopes.
Vonn has since raced two events — one lower-level FIS race in Copper Mountain and a World Cup in St. Moritz. In her return to the world stage, Vonn finished 14th.
As Vonn continues to inspire her teammates, many of whom looked up to her growing up, and her fans across the world. It’s not out of the question that she could return toward the very top of the sport. Fellow Parkite Lauren Macuga has succeeded alongside Vonn, finishing last season 43rd in the world and currently sitting 21st after this season’s first two Cups.
Vonn will strap back on her skis Jan. 9 in St. Anton, Austria, for the next Cup. Follow her results this season on her FIS page and her Instagram page.
There are six more speed Cups and a World Championships left this season for Vonn, Macuga and the field. For more information on where to watch them, see the U.S. Ski Team’s website.
Fisher double-podiums Paris distance events
Parkite Grant Fisher put the local running scene on the map back in August, becoming the first American man to double-podium the 5,000- and 10,000-meter events at the same Olympics.
Fisher won two bronze medals in the events at the Paris Games. He finished the 5,000m with a time of 13:13.66 and the 10,000m at 26:43.46.
Both of the races ended in dramatic fashion, with Fisher chasing down numerous competitors on the final lap.
Fisher celebrated both medals with a victory lap around Paris’ Stade de France track, donning the American flag. The 27 year old had plenty of family and friends attending to support him.
Fisher moved to town in October of 2023 because of the area’s high altitude. He trains around town, at the U.S. Ski Team’s Center of Excellence and in Salt Lake City.
Fisher has become part of a community of elite distance runners moving to town as of late, including fellow Olympic medalists Courtney Frerichs, Matthew Centrowitz Jr. and more.
Fisher said his best memories from the Paris Games will be his podium finishes, meeting fellow athletes in the village and going clubbing with his friends and family after his final race, the 5,000m.
Fisher began his training for the 2025 season back in September, which typically runs February through September. He’d like to find further success at the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo, knowing it could be his last big event on track. As runners like Fisher age, they have to consider racing longer-distance events like the marathon, although he also has Los Angeles 2028 on his mind.
To track Fisher’s results next season, see his World Athletic’s page. The Parkite will most likely compete in the World Championships, Diamond League races and potentially the Grand Slam Track league.
Batten wins mountain biking silver medal in Paris
Grant Fisher wasn’t the only Parkite to win a medal in Paris, with mountain biker Haley Batten winning an even-shinier silver in women’s cross-country mountain biking.
The 26 year old overcame a popped tire mid race to finish with a time of 1:28.59, just five seconds faster than the third place rider. Batten was only about three minutes off the gold medal pace.
Batten’s performance served as another piece of inspiration for our vibrant mountain biking community. The Parkite grew up racing for the Park City Schools Mountain Bike Team.
Batten continued racing through September this year. It’s likely she’ll chase the gold medal in Los Angeles in 2028.
Batten’s 2024 season ran February through September. To track her results in 2025, see her mountain biking date page.
“I feel so lucky to have grown up there and been part of the amazing cycling and outdoor community,” Batten said on Park City. “Growing up in a town with Olympic training facilities, Olympians and Olympic medalists, you can feel the pride that the Park City has for the Olympic dream. I hope to give back to the community of young athletes and cyclists in Utah as much as I can.”
Utah Hockey Club established, arrives in town
Back in April, Utah got the lovely news that the Phoenix Coyotes would be relocating to Salt Lake City as the Utah Hockey Club.
As soon as July 4 week, the club had put their skates in Park City ice, holding their prospect development camp at the Ice Arena.
The team also held a presser at the Park City Hotel July 1 announcing the resigning of star defenseman Sean Durzi.
The July camp ended with a free scrimmage at the Delta Center with the team prospects.
The club returned to town in October for a teambuilding weekend before their season-opener. Both executives and players gushed about their reception in town, noting Park City as a great spot just minutes away from their arena. While here in October, the team spent time around town, including practicing at the Ice Arena. They then achieved their inaugural win over the Blackhawks.
Utah sits at 16-13-6 at this point in the season. They will play through at least mid April, should they miss the playoffs. Tickets this season to games at the Delta Center can be found on myriad third-party sites.
Freestyle World Cup returned to Deer Valley
Back in February, the Deer Valley World Cup returned for the 22nd time, hosting moguls and aerials competitions.
Thousands of fans were treated to the spectacles of world-class action over the three days of action.
Parkites like Nick Page, Alli Macuga and Connor Curran showed out. Curran, Winter Vinecki and Dylan Marcellini posted podium finishes as local skiers. Vinecki won the women’s aerials event.
The stop was once again a prime event on both tours for the skiers.
Men’s skiing GOAT Mikael Kingsbury set the record for the most men’s Cup victories with 87 in the solo moguls competition.
Deer Valley capped off the three days of competition with a post-podium celebratory drone show for attending fans.
The Deer Valley Cup will return for a 23rd time Feb. 6-8. There will be solo and dual moguls events again, plus aerials. To track those results, see the Deer Valley Cup’s FIS page. For more information on the 2025 event, including VIP tickets, see Deer Valley’s website.
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Winter 2024/25
The Park Record newspaper publishes twice weekly in Park City, Utah, and has been serving Summit County since 1880.
