It wasn’t that long ago that ski resort operators lost sleep over snowfall. Then they had to fret over once-in-a-lifetime protocols to limit the spread of contagion at their ski areas. Now, the worries are stacked even deeper, with affordable housing, dwindling numbers of workers and ever-lengthening lift lines joining the perennial fretting over snow […]
Colorado Ski Country
Posted inBusiness, News, Outdoors, Outsider
Colorado ski areas aren’t talking about skier fatalities this season. So we asked coroners instead.
At least 11 skiers were killed in traumatic crashes at Colorado’s 26 ski areas this season. That is about the average number for a ski season — “about” because it’s difficult to learn when and how skiers and snowboarders die inbounds at the state’s ski areas. Ski areas are not required to share information about […]
Posted inBusiness, Health, News, Outdoors, Politics and Government
Colorado lawmakers reject effort to require ski areas to report injuries, publish safety plans
Colorado state lawmakers on Thursday killed a bill that would have required ski areas to publish ski injury statistics and safety plans. The Colorado Senate’s Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee heard from more than 40 witnesses over three hours Thursday, many pleading for the passage of Senate Bill 184. They also heard from ski industry […]
Posted inBusiness, COVID, News, Outdoors
Colorado is trying to figure out what to do when ski country visitors catch coronavirus
Colorado’s public health officials have released a list of guidelines for Colorado ski areas heading into the winter season and they look a lot like operating plans already announced by resorts. The guidance for Colorado ski areas “establish some new baseline standards to create common expectations” for resorts, reads the report the state released Wednesday. […]
Posted inBusiness, Coloradans, News, Outdoors
The ski industry used to only be about operations. Women leaders are helping refocus it on experience.
VAIL — The U.S. ski resort industry started with a bunch of mustachioed dudes focused on uphill transportation. Sixty-plus years later, resort skiing has transformed from an operation into an experience, with attention paid to safety, snow grooming, speedy lifts, lessons, food and fewer hassles. The evolution of skiing can be attributed to a more […]
Posted inOutdoors
Not sure which season ski pass to buy? Here are 10 questions to help guide your decision.
It’s the time of year to ponder passes. Season ski pass prices start climbing around Labor Day and today’s resort operators offer discounts for skiers who commit early. Remember: resorts punish poor planners with exorbitant prices for day lift tickets. Here’s a guide for the 2019-20 ski season in Colorado, which is ground zero for […]