We often laud our amazing community and point to our shared grassroots success in providing one of the best trail networks in the world. I hope you will join me in recognizing one individual who has offered his time in support for almost every volunteer event we’ve hosted, Nick Calas.
Nick moved to town before Mountain Trails Foundation existed, at a time when a dollar would buy you five beers during happy hour at the Alamo. Starting as a parking lot attendant at Park City Ski area, he worked his way up to “the best job on the mountain” working on the race crew when Park City hosted its first world cup in ’84-’85. Living in the Centennial building at the top of Main, he and his roommate split the $400 monthly rent – although he admits that utilities cost almost as much as rent and that the stained-glass windows didn’t provide much insulation.
Nick bought his first “real” mountain bike, a non-descript black frame from New Park Cyclery. It was a used bike previously owned by the proprietor, Tom Noaker. He worked with the “Underground Trail Company” to cut some of the first mountain bike trails in town, such as Masonic and Trappers Gate. They would leave tools on trails so everyone could take a turn cutting and digging.
Working for Park City Municipal for 32 years, Nick did everything from re-setting pins at the bowling alley (where O’Shucks is now) to managing various sports teams, tournaments and maintaining facilities at the MARC (formerly the Racquet Club).
Nick is always looking forward to the next trail adventure and is eagerly awaiting singletrack riding in Bonanza Flat. So far as sage advice, he asks that everyone wears a helmet when riding, “You don’t want to get a concussion and people don’t realize what can happen… it could happen between your house and the grocery store, PLEASE WEAR A HELMET!”
Like so many of our members and volunteers, Nick has a great Park City story and continues to invest himself in making a Park City (and its trails!) a better place for all of us. We hope that you will enjoy creating your own Park City history and take the time to reflect on those people, like Nick, who make this place special.
