PARK CITY, Utah -- World Cup Aerial Freestyle Champion Mac Bohonnon doesn't need to prove his bravery at the top of a ski jump, but he admits he was a little scared at the top of the Utah Olympic Legacy Park's old jumps.
"You go up there, you look at a jump and you go, 'there's no way I'm going to go off that thing!'" Bohonnon said as he described the jumps he's been training on for years.
Now Bohonnon says he doesn't need to be afraid because the Utah Olympic Legacy Park has seven new jumps and a new pool along with a giant climbing wall extending over the water.
"Knowing these jumps are sturdy and brand new and built to perfection is only going to bring new athletes into the sport and provide the best training facility in the world," Bohonnon said.
Colin Hilton, President and CEO of the Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation, said the improvements that will be complete at the end of the week have turned an aging gem into the world's shiniest, newest and most advanced freestyle ski training facility.
"As the years have progressed, so have the sports, and we have a facility that's absolutely one of a kind, state of the art, and we are just thrilled to death," Hilton said.
Freestyle skiing now has Olympic events that didn't exist in 2002, including moguls and freeriding, and the park's upgrades include jumps for each.
Hilton said the renovation is the first major upgrade to one of Utah's Olympic venues, and it's not all for the elite athletes.
"I have a member of my board who wants this park to provide recreation for kids in our community," Hilton said, referring to Spence Eccles.
Eccles donated a million dollars toward the renovation, and the freestyle area now bears his name.
The park will host a free open house on Saturday, June 27, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. At 6 p.m., they'll start an aerial show that will require a purchased ticket.
