I would have a nice mountain banner with snow on it with it being sunny outside.
Colors throughout the skin would be blue and white, which would also match jazz like colors :D

Blue and white was what I was thinking too. So it's in work atm, still trying to get the bugs err hacks rather worked out. :) I'll post a screen shot too and see what ya think!

You have a lot of forums for your activity rate.

Ask yourself this: How important is the "Latest News" forum. It's your most active forum, but it's a robot. Very very few of the posted topics have a reply, as everyone uses KSL for their "fix" anyways. We already have a great site to use for getting news here in Utah.. and unless you're going to outdo it, I don't see the point in having it.

I think "Smooth fixed" still needs some tweaking, and it could use some better design work, but it is better than your default style.

I'll keep my eyes on it. If it becomes pretty active, I may be interested in promoting my Utah based site that I'm developing in your advertisements.

what are the Utah state colors? you can do a lot with John's themes, depends on how much time and PS experience you have...

you have tangerine as default now, here is my version for NJ and here is MD

It's a great stlye for a regional forum, also Talk Stuff, idk is smooth will really look that great for it, reminds me more of a PC site or something.

You do have LOTS of sections, condense them down and later you can expand them if need be.

I don't like the big top stats at the bottom, but that is personal preference i guess

you should try a custom welcome header, should help a lot too...top of that page is a link to make a regular welcome header.

good start, keep it up!

I like the style you're using... but, I think you should add a header and pictures from Utah. The colors of the style would look really good with some blue skies and pictures of Arches and Zions...

Thanks for all the great tips - I greatly appreciate them!

I understand the concern about the number of forums currently available and will definitely look at cutting back on them. In creating this forum, I started out with the mind set that I was going to create a forum ready for a large user base even if I didn't have one yet. But it won't hurt to cut back and build up as time and necessity dictates.

I do agree with working with the graphics and to continue tweaking them towards the Utah theme. My digital art skills are so-so, so that is one minor hindrance on my part, but there's only one way to get better!

KTBleeding, yeah I've been mulling over the latest news cat. It's probably going to be the first cut. I have been trying to "woo" over the KSL posters being they are pretty opinionated which is perfect for a forum! So thought an RSS feed might help, but meh.

Caddyman, I really liked how the MD's forum incorporated the state flag in it's buttons so that may be something I might duplicate later on if you don't mind. But was really impressed with what you've done for both forums and will probably refer back to them in the future! :)

I kinda like the stats at the bottom, but as you said, it is more personal preference and that is why I have at the bottom instead of the top like some of the other forums I have visited.

The banner image I'll probably play around with as time permits, and the custom welcome header is pretty important as well. That's another one of those "need to do" but haven't yet.

Thanks again for all your inputs! It definitely helps to have other designer/admins opinions as a resource in this endeavor!