Known since its 1972 inaugural season as the Athlete’s Mountain, Copper‘s founders took a cue from the topography and designed a resort built to inspire snow lovers of all skill levels. The mountain’s 2,500+ acres of high alpine terrain was helpfully separated by Mother Nature into three distinct zones: access expert terrain from East Village, intermediate terrain from Center Village, and easy terrain from the West Village.
The Athlete’s Mountain
Located just 75 miles west of Denver, Copper is also home to Woodward Copper, a skiing and snowboarding facility for the young (and aerially-minded) at heart that operates all year long, and an official U.S. Ski & Snowboard Team Training Center.
Not surprisingly, Copper‘s calendar is suitably jam-packed with world-class events for world-class athletes, including the Toyota U.S. Grand Prix halfpipe event, a new X Games event, and the U.S. Revolution Tour. But wait… there’s more! Staple events, like Safetyfest and the Subaru Winterfest, share mountain time with the IFSA Freeride World Qualifier and Junior Freeride events for big mountain competitors and the USASA National Championships.
So whether you’re a skier or a snowboarder or a spectator or all three all at once, Copper’s got you covered. Grab that Ski Passport and go, future Olympians!
Photo courtesy of Copper Mountain
Peak Presents: 13 Gifts to Elevate the Ski Season
Colorado Ski Country USA Brings the Magic of the Mountains to Skiers & Snowboarders
It’s the holiday season, and you know what that means here in Colorado Ski Country USA: fresh snow and days on the slopes!
As you’re scouting for stocking stuffers or spinning up Hanukkah gift ideas, here are some snowy suggestions to give the chill chasers on your list the present of powder days and magical mountain memories.
Stocking Stuffers
Our Ski Passport is perfect for students in grades 3–6. Give ’em four days each at 20 CSCUSA member resorts for just $67—that’s 80 days on the slopes for just $67! (Do we repeat ourself? We do! What a deal, snow lovers!) As if that’s not enough, every Ski Passport includes two free junior gear rentals, courtesy of presenting sponsor Christy Sports.
Our Gems Teen Pass gives 12 to 17-year-olds access to the slopes at Colorado’s best-kept ski-crets—the Gems resorts! For $199, teens can enjoy up to 22 days of skiing or riding.
“Fully compostable” probably doesn’t scream “tech accessories” to you, but Pela is here to flip the script. Pela’s phone cases are plastic-free, made from plants, and ethically manufactured on top of being incredibly chic. Check out their Ski & Snowboard Collection for the perfect stocking stuffer.
Anything that makes hauling gear less of a hassle earns a spot at the top of our wish lists, and that’s where the Stevie Strap comes in. This clever accessory lets you carry your skis and poles with ease, taking the struggle out of schlepping to the slopes.
You can never go wrong with a classic pair of socks, especially when they’re warm enough to make your toes do a happy dance. Smartwool delivers an impressive lineup of ski socks in every style, thickness, and colorway imaginable. Functional, fashionable, and downright cozy? That’s a win-win-win, people!
Give the shredders on your list a little extra grip and a whole lotta Colorado pride. A snowboard stomp pad with a Centennial State twist adds style and function to your favorite snowboarder’s set up.
After the Party, It’s the Après Party
For all the après aficionados in your life, a portable camp stove is an absolute must-have. Tuck it away while you conquer the slopes, then fire it up for a cozy lunch or a post-lift parking lot party.
Level up your après game with a pair of cozy slippers. The Rossignol Winter Slippers from our partner Christy Sports are the ultimate gift for snow lovers who value comfort. Stash them in the car for that glorious moment when the boots come off.
Keep those tootsies toasty and dry with a trusty rubber mat. Lay down an Adventure Mat while swapping out your boots and use it to keep your gear clean as you load the car. It’s the perfect defense against snow and mud.
Prezzies for Powder Hounds
Got ski and snowboard sistahs? These clinics offer expert instruction tailored just for women, whether they’re out to master moguls, learn to carve perfect turns, or just meet new friends and make memories.
Powder hounds, meet your match: the Head Radar Helmet. This clever combo fuses the perks of goggles with the sleek functionality of a visor helmet. With the Radar line, Head has nailed the trifecta—fit, style, and performance—all while keeping comfort on lock.
Thanks to the collaboration between Christy Sports, SOS Outreach, and Nordica, there’s a ski that’s truly in a class of its own. The Nordica SOS Outreach Enforcer 94 features a limited-edition graphic, with 100% of profits going straight to SOS Outreach. Talk about a gift that gives back! But don’t wait—only 70 pairs will hit the slopes, so act fast before they’re all spoken for.
Searching for the ultimate gift for the snow lover who has it all? Look no further than the Colorado Ski Country USA Gold Pass membership. This luxury pass offers unlimited skiing all season long at 20 CSCUSA member resorts with no blackout dates and direct-to-lift simplicity. Plus, it’s fully transferable, making it the perfect gift to share with clients, colleagues, family, or friends. Gold Pass membership applications are reviewed in the order they are received, and a limited number are available each season. It’s a golden opportunity to give the gift of endless powder days!
Last but definitely not least, consider the gift of a FREE subscription to the Colorado Ski Country USA Snow Report! Customize your delivery days and get up-to-the-morning snow totals, resort conditions, and more, delivered straight to your inbox at 7:00 am.
Happy holidays, snow lovers!
Slay, Belles
Women’s Ski Clinics, Camps & Lessons
Whether you’re looking to boost your confidence, sharpen your skills, or simply have a blast with like-minded women on the slopes, we have you covered here in Colorado Ski Country USA. Our member resorts offer an array of women’s clinics for gals eager to up their ski—or board—game. Led by expert female instructors, these clinics combine camaraderie with personalized coaching, giving you the tools you need to hit the slopes with style and confidence. Powder hound or blues cruiser, there’s a clinic ready to help you take on new challenges—and have a great time doing it!
Sisters Are Doin’ It for Themselves
Women-only clinics in Colorado Ski Country USA provide a fun, supportive space that’s perfect for tackling fears and boosting confidence on the mountain. “I’ve seen that in a women-only clinic, the women feel more comfortable talking about their fears,” says CSCUSA’s 2023–24 Ski Instructor of the Year and Telluride Ski Instructor Deb Willits. “When that happens, we can really dive into what it will take to increase confidence.”
The kind of support to be found in ski clinics run by women for women fosters growth and resilience among participants. Olivia Butrymovich, Copper Mountain communications and philanthropy manager, says that the “extra layer of encouragement that a group of women can provide one another is unmatched.”
Butrymovich details Copper’s decades-long commitment to female snow lovers: “We’ve offered some form of seasonal women’s program for over 30 years. This winter is no different, as we’ll have our Women’s Wednesdays seasonal program and our Women’s Clinics.” Many women’s clinics are also tailored to particular areas of technique that allow skiers and shredders to hone specific skills. “We’ve really tried to create a supportive space for women that are looking to tackle new challenges on the mountain, like navigating a technical bump run or making a lap through the terrain park,” Butrymovich explains.
Explore Your Edge
Women-only clinics are available each season at Arapahoe Basin, Aspen Snowmass, Copper Mountain, Eldora, Granby Ranch, Monarch Mountain, Powderhorn, Purgatory, Telluride, and Winter Park.
Ready to master moguls, perfect your turns, or make new friends? Women-only clinics across Colorado Ski Country USA offer something special for every woman.
So buckle up those boots, join your ski sisters, and leave your fears in the dust… er, powder. (Pro tip: our Gems Discount Card has a BOGO offer that’s perfect for sharing with a girlfriend!)
Golden Deals for Silver Skiers
Senior Skier Programs in Colorado Ski Country USA
According to the most recent National Ski Areas Association (NSAA) Demographic Study, the median age of snowsports participants continues to climb slowly upwards, a trend fueled by baby boomers, many of whom are skating—and skiing—into their 60s and 70s with no signs of slowing down. The NSAA survey tell us that, here in Colorado Ski Country USA, the median age of our fellow snow lovers is 38 and that means that the sight of silver-haired skiers schussing down a trail near you is more common than ever.
And why not? Skiing can improve balance and coordination, cardiovascular health, muscle strength, and bone density. Skiers (and snowboarders) of all ages know that happiness is being outside doing something you love with people you love, and happiness, along with all those other measurable benefits, keeps you young at heart.
If you’re one of the many elder statesmen and women who plan to hit the slopes this winter, take advantage of the deals, discounts, and special events on offer in Colorado Ski Country USA.
Aspen Snowmass
Seniors between the ages of 65–69 can choose between two season pass options for the upcoming winter season. Purchase an Premier Senior Pass at the early pricing rate, now through November 29; regular pricing begins November 30.
Seniors age 70+ can purchase a Premier Silver Pass, now through November 29; regular pricing begins November 30.
If you’re 50 years or older and still committed to carving, consider Copper’s Over the Hill Gang. Members meet in Center Village to share their love of skiing and shredding, if you’d rather ride than slide. Come for the tips and tricks you learn; stay for the camaraderie and the new friends.
Echo Mountain
The ski area that describes itself as close, affordable, and kick-butt wants seniors to come on up and try new things—or keep on getting better and better, like fine wine. Their Unlimited Senior and Value Senior season passes are for skiers and snowboarders age 65+.
Howelsen Hill
North America’s longest running ski area features a variety of discounted tickets and passes for seniors age 65+. And skiers of all ages can take advantage of Ski Free Sundays all season long, thanks to the community of Steamboat Springs, which greenlit the program as a way to celebrate the community’s Olympian spirit and honor the tradition of this historic ski area.
Granby Ranch
Skiers 76 and older are golden at Granby Ranch, where they can ski or ride all winter long with the purchase of a discounted Golden season pass or take advantage of discounted daily lift tickets.
The resort’s 6-week Senior Ski Clinic (55+) is designed specifically for older adults looking to build confidence and improve their skiing skills. Whether it’s mastering speed control, balance, or navigating varied terrain, this clinic provides expert instruction in a safe and welcoming environment. It’s the perfect opportunity for skiers aged 55+ to enhance their abilities, enjoy the mountain, and connect with others who share a passion for skiing.
Clinics are offered for both skiing and snowboarding, intermediate and advanced; clinics are limited to 3 students. Clinics run on 6 successive Tuesdays, January 9, 16, 23, 30, and February 6, 13 or Thursdays, January 11, 18, 25, and February 1, 8, 15.
For skiers 50 years young and up
Telluride’s Silver Skier Program welcomes everyone from novices all the way through advanced skiers. Ski in small groups with new friends who have similar goals and abilities. Groups are kept together and coached by the same certified instructor for the entire 4-week session. Session 1 will take place January 9, 16, 23 and 30; Session 2 will take place February 6, 13, 20 and 27.
Photo courtesy of Granby Ranch
Senior Discounts
Say It IS Snow!
Colorado Ski Country USA Resorts See the First Snow of the 2024-25 Season
Several Colorado Ski Country USA resorts woke up to a tantalizing taste of winter this morning: a dusting of snow on the peaks!
Arapahoe Basin Ski Area, about 65 miles west of Denver, saw a dusting of the white stuff even though they’re still open for summer operations— or as they call it: “not winter.” Visitors to Arapahoe Basin can still enjoy such “not winter” activities as scenic lift rides, an aerial adventure park, a via ferrata, hiking, biking, and disc golf.
Just a little further up the road—82 miles west of Denver—Copper Mountain also got a frosty preview of winter overnight.
Believe it or not (believe it, snow lovers!), Copper Mountain still has skiers and snowboarders enjoying the snow this summer at the Summer Hike Park. The hike-to snowfield has held up all summer long, giving athletes 12 straight months of training on snow for the first time ever! Copper Mountain is only a few weeks out from turning on the snow guns, but there’s still time to enjoy golfing, go-karting, the mountain coaster, scenic chairlift rides, hiking, biking, and more.
Now is a great time to start planning your season because the earlier you book tickets, lessons, rentals, and lodging, the more opportunities there are to save. Just like airline tickets or hotels, ski prices increase as the season gets closer, and by the time the snow flies and the skiing is great, the best deals will be long gone. If you have a favorite resort, look into a season pass or multi-day lift ticket pack. Many resorts have bundle pricing for packages of lift tickets, lessons, rentals, and lodging, and some include free skiing for kids.
Start planning your trip now on our resorts page. You can search by CSCUSA passes accepted, available activities, and see a map of where all the CSCUSA member ski areas are located.
And once the season starts, be in the s’know with our customizable Snow Report. Just sign up, choose your days, and get the overnight snow totals from all 21 CSCUSA member resorts in your inbox by 7:00 am.
Photo courtesy of Arapahoe Basin
Community Building Copper Mountain Philanthropy
2024 Double Diamond Award Winners
Double Diamond Awards Celebrate Standout Snow Pros from the 2023-24 Season
Colorado Ski Country USA (CSCUSA) announced the winners of its 2023-24 Double Diamond Awards in front of an audience of industry leaders and partners at its annual meeting on June 6, at Coors Field. Sponsored by Leitner-Poma, the Double Diamond Awards, which have been given annually since 1999, honor the men and women who dedicate their seasons to making Colorado winter sports enjoyable, safer, and fun-filled.
“The recognition of the Double Diamond Awards is richly deserved by each and every one of the award winners,” said CSCUSA President and CEO Melanie Mills. “In partnership with our sponsor Leitner-Poma, we take a moment to celebrate the professionals who make skiing and snowboarding safer and more enjoyable for everyone, each day of the season.”
And the 2024 Double Diamond Awards go to…
Amy Geppi & Melanie Mills
Amy Geppi | Food & Beverage Professional of the Year Copper Mountain An industry veteran with extensive experience at several Colorado ski resorts, Amy Geppi has mastered the unique challenges of on-mountain dining, including staffing, transportation, and crowd management. She brought all that to bear as Copper unveiled Aerie, its new 19,000 sq. ft. facility mid-mountain lodge with three eateries.
Bill Henke & Melanie Mills
Bill Henke | Guest Services Professional of the Year Sunlight Mountain Resort
Bill Henke brings more than 40 years of experience in corporate sales to the Guest Services Department at Sunlight Mountain Resort. According to his colleagues, he is intelligent, kind, and an excellent communicator, and his compassion, patience, and follow-through make him the perfect fit for Sunlight’s guest experience team.
Emily Moratta with Melanie Mills
Emily Moratta | Patroller of the Year Arapahoe Basin
Emily Moratta manages Arapahoe Basin’s patrol medical training, coordinates EMT education, and liaises with the medical director. With advanced avalanche and rescue certifications, she plays a key role in snow safety and lift evacuation training. As a Summit County Search and Rescue Team Leader, Emily has logged nearly 900 hours on missions and trainings. Emily is also currently training her puppy Echo as an avalanche dog while she pursues her Advanced EMT certification.
Louis Miller on the Coors scoreboard
Louis Miller | Snow Groomer of the Year Eldora
Louis Miller’s colleagues from Eldora Mountain Resort accepted the award for Snow Groomer of the Year posthumously on his behalf. Louis, Eldora’s equipment manager and snowcat supervisor, died while working on the trail crew at Eldora in May, days after learning he had won the award. Originally from Kentucky, Louis worked in the ski industry for over 25 years. During the nomination process, he shared that he loved the physical and mental challenge of his job, and the focus and concentration necessary to overcome those challenges.
Marc Fernandes & Melanie Miller
Marc Fernandes | Instructor of the Year Aspen Snowmass
Marc Fernandes is a 17-year veteran of Aspen’s Ski and Snowboard School. This award recognizes his work to update Aspen Snowmass’s New Hire Training Program as a comprehensive, multimedia experience. Marc’s colleagues say his always-smiling presence on the snow combined with an innate ability to connect with guests make him the ideal instructor for skiers and snowboarders of all ages and abilities.
Micah Schulman
Micah Schulman | Snowmaker of the Year Echo Mountain
Micah Schulman has been with Echo for four years. During that time, he has excelled—first as a lift operator, then as a snowmaker, and now as Echo’s snowmaking supervisor. According to his colleagues, Micah’s persistent optimism and positive attitude, even during long, cold overnight shifts, make him a joy to work with, and his hard work, determination, and strategic thinking have significantly enhanced Echo’s snow surface quality.
Scott Mackie & Melanie Mills
Scott Mackie | Terrain Park Specialist of the Year Aspen Snowmass
In his 11 years at Aspen, Scott Mackie has worked in food and beverage, hospitality, trail maintenance, terrain parks, and snowcat operations. Over the past decade, Scott has demonstrated an unparalleled attention to detail and an unwavering commitment to his team.
Micki Hackenberger, Piep van Heuven & Melanie Mills
Micki Hackenberger | President’s Award
The 2024 President’s Award, which is given annually to a person who has made significant and positive contributions to the trade association, went to Micki Hackenberger from Husch Blackwell Strategies. Micki’s political skills combined with her deep knowledge of and connections at the Capitol have been crucial in navigating state policy and legislation on issues of concern to the ski industry.
Rob Perlman introduces Senator Dylan Roberts
Senator Dylan Roberts | Chair’s Award
The 2024 Chair’s Award was presented to Senator Dylan Roberts, a strong and effective voice for mountain and rural communities at the Capitol. Senator Roberts was elected in 2022 to serve in Colorado’s 8th Senate District, which includes Summit, Eagle, Grand, and Routt Counties. Senator Roberts has passed numerous bills to protect our environment and water, lower healthcare costs, create housing solutions, and secure funding and tax incentives for passenger rail efforts.
All photos courtesy of Cort Muller
Annual Meeting Double Diamond Awards People Behind the Snow
It’s a Cool, Cool Summer
Things don’t slow down in Colorado Ski Country USA when the weather warms. The high country is the perfect place to spend a day—or a week—when things heat up.
Stay cool and connected with friends and family with any of our long, long list of summer activities, events, and adventures at CSCUSA member resorts. Many are free or low-cost, making a mountain escape a budget-friendly way to spend the summer.
COPPER MOUNTAIN, CO – Snow lovers in striking distance of Copper Mountain woke to a veritable Christmas in April, with a major spring storm dumping 18″ of new snow overnight and an additional 5″ piling up on their snow stake in the wee hours of the morning. Conditions are, well… to call them UH-MAZING would be an understatement. The resort announced on April 15 that they will extend the 2023-24 season into May.
And if the gift of a foot-and-a-half of fresh powder wasn’t enough, now through the end of that extended season, Copper is offering $99 lift tickets and 40% off Friends and Family passes. For those of you hightailing it to the resort, don’t take your eyes off the road while we do the math for you: that equals ticket prices as low as $60. Plus, don’t miss the Lleky Hot Laps event on Thursday, April 18, and Copper Live on Saturday, April 20, along with the final uphill race of the Mammut Uphill Race Series.
Copper Mountain’s annual closing weekend celebration, Sunsation, will take place on April 27–28. Set your GPS for the resort, drive carefully, and enjoy free live music performances from Ripe and The Main Squeeze in Copper’s Center Village in Eagle’s Landing. Sunsation festivities continue with Slush Rush on April 27. A team relay event, Slush Rush combines several snow sport competition favorites, including halfpipe, a boarder cross course, and a jump and rail section into a pond skim. Registration and more details are available at CopperColorado.com.
Photo courtesy of Copper Mountain
Community Building Copper Mountain Philanthropy
Savvy Skiers Scout Spring Savings
Now is the time that savvy skiers (like you) scoop up season passes. Because in Colorado Ski Country USA, spring brings the best deals.
by Amanda Faison skier, ski mom, lover of slopeside cuisine
SOMEWHERE IN COLORADO SKI COUNTRY USA – Growing up in Aspen, my provided ski-school lunch consisted of a very sad hot dog and a small soda on a tray. (Of course, I always bolstered this with a pocket roll of Mentos for chairlift snacks.) Hot dogs might still make an appearance on the occasional resort menu, but on-mountain dining has evolved to include more finely crafted options. See below for some of CSCUSA’s top picks, plus an uphill bonus.
Not only does Arapahoe Basin’sIl Rifugio sit at 12,456 feet and carry the distinction of the highest restaurant in North America, the bistro also serves excellent antipasto and charcuterie boards along with panini and salads. For stunning views of the Continental Divide, dine on a bluebird day and see if you can nab a table by the window or sit on the deck. The vistas pair perfectly with a glass of bubbly. Open for pastries and coffee at 9:00 am and lunch starting at 10:30 am; no reservations.
Fun fact: Before Il Rifugio opened in 2019, Telluride’sAlpino Vino (at 11,966 feet) boasted the title of North America’s highest restaurant. But don’t let the difference of 490 feet discourage you from dining at this gorgeous chalet. Perched on the side of the aptly-named See Forever run, you really can see for-evah! The views only enhance the already terrific menu of pastas, antipasti, and panini. Swirling a glass of Italian wine by the fireplace, you might momentarily think you’re in the Dolomites. Open for lunch and dinner; reservations strongly recommended.
Over the years, the Tennessee Pass Cookhouse, a yurt with nightly dinner service, has become a destination. The structure, which sits at 1,080 feet and is accessed from Ski Cooper’snordic center, is only reachable by snowshoeing, skinning, or (for an upcharge) snowmobile. The ongoing popularity of that experience led the resort to create yet another dining opportunity: Yurt dinners at Ridgeview Cafe. For these evenings, a snowcat delivers guests to the mountaintop yurt, and after a dinner of prime rib, shrimp scampi, and other fancy dishes (plus tiramisu!), folks either pile back into the snowcat or ski down via headlamp. Reservations required. Cooper’s yurt dinners are sold out for the rest of the 2023–24 season, but Tennessee Pass Cookhouse will soon transition to its summer schedule.
Skiers and riders take note: Loveland Ski Area is doing something all its own. Thanks to its secret weapon, kitchen supervisor and head baker Audra Alviso, the mountain has established a fantastic pastry program. Alviso, a Denver native who worked as head baker at Whole Foods for six years and as a chocolatier in Idaho Springs, has taken Loveland’s morning nosh up a serious notch. She specializes in doughnuts, French pastries, and petit fours, and even if you’re not hitting the hill (ummm, whyever not?!), Alviso’s treats are worth pulling off I-70 for.
This season, Aspen Snowmass set out with a mission to bring the best of the best in burgers to its on-mountain guests. The resort rolled out seven signature burgers across its four mountains. From classic to seriously over-the-top, each $21 sandwich features local, grass-fed beef patties from Nieslanik Ranch in Carbondale. The chosen restaurants—Sundeck at Aspen Mountain; Elk Camp, High Alpine, and Ullrhof at Snowmass;Buttermilk Mountain Lodge and Cliffhouse at Buttermilk Mountain; and Merry-Go-Round at Aspen Highlands—all added their own flair. For example, in keeping with High Alpine’s Bavarian spin, the burger is topped with pastrami and kraut and bookended by a pretzel bun. Over at Merry-Go-Round at Highlands, the mountain’s come-as-you-are vibe translated to a burger with a little bit of everything: pastrami bacon, onion rings, pepper jack, barbecue sauce, lettuce, onion, tomato, and grilled cheese sandwiches standing in for a bun. If only there were a burger passport, where you could get a stamp for trying each—and a prize (a shot of Pepto? A free beer?) at the end!
And speaking of Aspen…With small exception, most every CSCUSA resort permits uphilling with an arm band and mindful awareness of the rules. But Buttermilk takes the experience to the next level with the Friday Morning Uphill Breakfast Club. On Friday mornings throughout the season, Cliffhouse, the restaurant at the summit, opens early for those earning their turns. For the 2023–2024 season, the Aspen Chamber Resort Association sponsored the breakfasts, meaning that uphillers could nosh on items from a DIY yogurt and oatmeal station or breakfast fried rice with a farm egg for just $7.50 per person.
