Kyrgyzstan President Sadyr Japarov stopped at Deer Valley Resort during a U.S. trip to compare notes on two massive ski projects half a world apart.

The visit brought together resort and development leaders from both countries. First reported by the Park Record on Tuesday, Sept. 29, the meeting was organized by the Stirling Foundation, a Pleasant Grove nonprofit focused on international relations. Representatives from Extell Development, the Military Installation Development Authority (MIDA) and Gov. Spencer Cox's office also attended. Japarov brought a small group that included translators.

The conversation centered on Deer Valley's East Village expansion, according to Deer Valley President and COO Todd Bennett and Extell Executive Vice President of resort development Kurt Krieg. Krieg led the discussion on guest amenities planned for East Village, including retail developments and lodging options ranging from luxury hotels to privately owned condos. Bennett walked through snowmaking, lift infrastructure and how Deer Valley's layout compares to Ala-Too, the nearly 9,700-acre resort Japarov is building in Kyrgyzstan's Tian Shan mountains near Lake Issyk-Kul.

"They really wanted to talk about skiing," Krieg said. "They wanted to learn, and everybody can learn from each other."

Bennett said the biggest difference between the two resorts is lift-to-run length. Ala-Too has more terrain with fewer, longer lifts. Deer Valley has shorter runs and faster skier circulation. Bennett compared Ala-Too's layout to something more common in Europe than at North American resorts.

He also noted the snow contrast: 23 inches would count as a large single-storm total at Deer Valley, while Kyrgyzstan could see three times that from one storm. Both resorts share the light, dry powder found at inland mountains.

The diplomatic connection traces to earlier in 2026, when Cox and Utah Senate President Stuart Adams established relations with the Central Asian country while Adams was in its capital, Bishkek, according to the Park Record.

Japarov, who described Ala-Too as a project to build "world-class resorts around which entire regions will develop," according to Unofficial Networks citing the Kyrgyz presidential press service, also instructed his government agencies to study Utah's approach to mountain development, including investment structures and the involvement of international hotel brands.

Deer Valley's own expansion continues at pace. As we reported Sept. 27, East Village is rolling out in phases, with full operations expected for the 2028-29 winter season. Hotels under construction include the Four Seasons and the Waldorf Astoria, along with a new base lodge. The project will require an estimated 6,000 workers, according to KPCW citing MIDA board member Erik Rowland.

Deer Valley opens its 2026-27 season Dec. 5, with the new Hail Peak Express chairlift bringing the resort's total terrain to roughly 4,500 acres. At full build-out, the Expanded Excellence plan will stretch Deer Valley to 5,726 acres.

No return visit by Japarov is scheduled, though Bennett said Deer Valley would be happy to host him for a day on the slopes.