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Utah Ski Resort Calls Out Reality TV Show for Embarrassing Mistake

Originally posted on Powder | By Matt Lorelli | Last updated Jun 17, 2025 12:25 PM ET

There are just three ski resorts in the United States that still ban the use of snowboards: Mad River Glen, VT; Alta Ski Area, UT; and Deer Valley Resort, UT.

All three seem to have no intention of allowing snowboarding in the future, but the latter has adopted one of the most staunch positions against the sport.

Deer Valley's persistence to remain a ski-only mountain has something to do with ritzy skiers and their disdain for the young whipper-snappers that skid by them on snowboards, but that controversial and silly debate is for another time.

Regardless of the absurdity, Deer Valley doesn't allow snowboarding, plain and simple. Because of this, the resort was shocked when a scene from Hulu's reality TV show, The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, showed a cast member carrying a snowboard and discussing how it was his first time at the resort.

Deer Valley recorded the clip and posted it to their social media accounts with the caption, "WE NEED ANSWERS!". Tap or click to watch below.

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A post shared by Deer Valley Resort (@deervalleyresort)

Internet sleuths are attempting to discern the context of the scene, but without speaking to a producer on the show, their guesses are as good as mine.

One theory is that the snowboarder in the clip had been riding at Park City Mountain Resort (PCMR) but was staying at Deer Valley. PCMR allows snowboarding and it's not uncommon for riders to enjoy Deer Valley's hotels and lodging but ride the neighboring resort.

Another theory is that this clip is completely fabricated. Some commenters are suggesting that the show created this faux après snowboard conversation just to tee up drama later in the show. If true, the show's producers looked over the fact that Deer Valley doesn't allow snowboarding. Oops.

The final theory is that nothing in this clip is authentic. One commenter even suggested that they filmed this interaction offseason to add context to the show. Notice how the woman in the scene is wearing a skirt and a short sleeve shirt? Seems odd if he's been snowboarding all day. Reality television. What a farce.

Regardless of how this scene was filmed, it's a perfect example of the mainstream's disconnect to our intimate world of snowsports. Lots of people ski and snowboard once or twice a year, but the number of people that are in the know when it comes to resort knowledge is significantly smaller.

I don't watch reality TV, nor do I have any interest in the "secret" lives of Mormon wives, but if they need a ski industry consultant/expert to avoid mistakes like this in the future, I'd like to formally throw my name into the hat.

I make some money with all of this seemingly useless ski industry knowledge in my role here at POWDER, but 'Matt Lorelli, Snowsports Consultant', or something of that nature has a nice ring to it, no?