Working at a snowboard magazine naturally comes with a fair bit of travel – and, as much as I hate to burst the bubble, it’s rarely the champagne-and-hot-tubs lifestyle you might imagine. More often than not, it’s shared “Austrian doubles” and bunk beds rather than private rooms and bellboys.
So when we had the chance to stay at the Salt Lake City evo Hotel for our recent trip to the Interlude snowboard trade show, we jumped at the opportunity.
Let’s start with the basics – evo.com is a major chain of snowboard shops across North America and Japan, stocking everything you could ever need while actively supporting snowboard culture through movie premieres, events and sponsorships.
Their shops act as hubs for local snowboard communities, and in February 2022 they expanded that idea into hospitality, launching a hotel chain aimed squarely at travelling snowsports enthusiasts.
The rooms strike a nice balance between industrial and modern, with exposed brick and beams, TVs, comfortable beds and all the essentials you’d expect – minus the unnecessary frills that tend to push prices into the “unattainable” category.
Best of all, each room features art or photography from a snowsports icon. We stayed in Bob Plumb’s room and, while he thankfully didn’t appear in the middle of the night, he’s one of our favourite photographers so we were pretty stoked.
Our first stop on arrival was naturally the skatepark – easily one of the most unique hotel facilities we’ve come across. There’s a large flow section with a spine, banks, euro gap, rails and decent-sized quarter pipes.
Fresh off a 13-hour drive we headed straight for the mini-park: a perfect place to warm up and learn new tricks. There’s a tiny 1.5ft mini ramp, a couple of quarters for learning drop-ins, some flat ground and a mellow bank. As a fan of tiny ramps, I had an absolute blast.
In summer (or on dry winter days) there’s also a small outdoor street section, which looked fun but was sadly soaked during our visit.
Forgot your board? No problem – rentals are available, along with anything else you might need from the well-stocked skate shop. Popped a bearing or snapped your deck? They’ve got you covered.
The attached shop is enormous, carrying everything you could ever need for snowboarding, including rentals. Thanks to evo’s deep roots in the industry, you’ll even find early or limited releases unavailable elsewhere – such as pre-issue Armada boards before the brand has officially launched.
Add to that a crew of knowledgeable staff ready to dial in your setup, plus a few loveable shop dogs at the door, and you’ve got a pretty ideal retail experience.
If you need to burn off some energy, there’s a huge bouldering gym on site, alongside a regular gym and saunas in the changing rooms for post-session recovery.
A good day of snowboarding is often bookended by a quality drink. We kicked off each morning in the café, which was just as happy serving an americano as a decaf oat chai latte – without judgement.
After riding, the rooftop bar is the perfect place to wind down with an ice-cold beer or a cocktail from their impressive menu. There’s heating for winter, fire pits, and a great view over the city and surrounding mountains.
There are currently three evo hotel locations, with more likely on the way:
This is the first hotel we’ve stayed in where we felt instantly immersed in the culture we’d travelled for. That sense of belonging hits as soon as you step into the lobby, complete with snowboard books and magazines to flick through while you wait.
From there, you’re surrounded by photography, products, passionate staff and like-minded guests – all there for the same reason: riding mountains and enjoying snow.
If you’re travelling in the USA or Japan for a snowboard trip, we’d highly recommend putting an evo hotel on your list.
Whitelines readers can score up to 25% off their stay at evo Hotel in Salt Lake City and Tahoe City — two hubs built for riders, creatives, and crews who like their travel with a little edge.
Planning a company off-site, team retreat, or meeting? Bring it to evo and receive the same lodging discount, plus 50% off meeting space rental.
To book, email [email protected] and mention you caught the discount through Whitelines.
Subject to availability.
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