Posted inBusiness, News, Outdoors

Q&A: Alterra CEO Rusty Gregory steps back and reflects on next generation of ski resort bosses

The U.S. ski industry was forged by soldiers. We all know the story about 10th Mountain vets returning from war with visions of ski runs and chairlifts that would spark dozens of American resorts. Innovators who worked every job at the ski area took the reins from those soldiers, creating even more lifts, better grooming […]

Posted inBusiness, COVID, Economy, News, Outdoors

Colorado resorts expect next ski season to be pretty normal, but some coronavirus changes may stick around

A year ago this week, lift-served skiing was broken.  Ski areas around the planet ground to a sudden halt in a desperate effort to slow the spread of contagion. Operators were distributing food from spring-break-stocked coolers and figuring out what to do with jobless workers in employee housing, all while slashing budgets and planning for […]

Posted inColoradans, Politics and Government

Black Lives Matter protests in Gunnison County showed people of color they have more allies than they realized

Sun slants through the buildings on Elk Avenue in Crested Butte, turning cottonwood fluff into floating sparkle. The surrounding hillsides glow green and rise up into red-hued peaks, some of which still hold bright, white snow. It’s a real-life snow globe scene, and Chloe Bowman stands at the center of it, suspended in the surreal. […]

Posted inBusiness, News, Outdoors

Want to ski at a Vail Resorts mountain during coronavirus? You’ll need a reservation.

Vail Resorts on Thursday unveiled the details of the plan for skiing at its 34 North American resorts — beginning Nov. 6 at Keystone — and, as we suspected, the 2020-21 season will be unlike any before.  Here are the not-surprising changes:  Masks are required for everyone on the mountain.  Physical distancing will be the […]

Posted inBusiness, COVID, News, Outdoors

Vail Resorts lost $140 million after coronavirus forced its ski areas to close. That’s actually better than expected.

Cost cutting by Vail Resorts after it closed its 34 North American ski areas on March 14 lessened the financial blow of the coronavirus. Slashing plans for capital upgrades, suspending cash dividends to shareholders, reducing salaries and furloughing hourly workers helped Vail Resorts lose only $140 million in income in the first four months of […]

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 […]