Ullr Smiles on Telluride
After a fairly dry fall Norse snow god, Ullr, has smiled on the Southwest Colorado town of Telluride. The ski area is blanketed in snow after a three day storm that hit the San Juan Mountains over the weekend. Telluride Ski Resort is reporting a storm total of 33 inches, a great start to ski season which will officially begin when the resort opens on Nov. 27.
The storm has covered the mountain top to bottom, creating a great base and early season conditions, states Jeff Proteau, VP of Mountain Operations and Planning, The cold temperatures are helping us with snowmaking, and were looking forward to a great opening.
Telluride Ski Resort invested over $1.3 million in snowmaking for the second year in a row with a focus on improved guest experience and reduced environmental impact. The updates and additions allow for greater snowmaking capacity in high traffic areas around Village Express (Lift 4) and Polar Queen Express (Lift 5), popular beginner and intermediate areas in the heart of the resorts trail system. The investment included 38 new high efficiency snowguns and a gravity water line that reduces energy consumption.
Aside from fantastic skiing, visitors this winter will have the opportunity to catch some great live music thanks to the resorts effort to extend the destinations legendary reputation as a music lovers paradise into the winter season. The Telluride Conference Center Winter Music Series, produced by Telluride Ski & Golf and the Sheridan Arts Foundation, will host Chris Robinson Brotherhood on Jan. 2 and The Wailers on Feb. 8. Through a partnership with local company Beyond the Groove productions, popular funk band, Lettuce, will play the regions newest venue ClubRED on Feb. 13.
What makes things even better is that getting to Telluride this season will be easier than ever with a 20 percent increase in flight options. New this year, United Airlines introduces nonstop service from San Francisco (SFO) and US Airways offers direct service from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX). There is also a 50 percent increase on American Airlines seats from Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW), and the addition of Sunday service from Newark (EWR) on United Airlines, increasing available seats by about 50 percent.
Official opening day is Nov. 27,2014 but ski season kicks off with Donation Day on Nov. 26. Donation Day is an annual fundraiser for the Telluride Ski & Snowboard club. Lift tickets are $25 for everyone, including Season Pass holders. For more information, visit www.tellurideskiresort.com
