COPPER MOUNTAIN, COLORADO – Copper Mountain opened for the 2023–24 season, under brilliant blue skies and with skiers and riders taking full advantage of soft corduroy slopes. The resort officially started turning the lifts at 9 a.m. on Monday, November 13, servicing top-to-bottom terrain access from Center Village. The 2023–24 season is set to be a big one, with the grand opening of the new mid-mountain lodge Aerie and a stacked line up of events to stoke excitement for the year ahead.
Copper opened Center Village and the American Eagle, Excelerator, and EZ Rider lifts for skiing and riding on Monday.
A terrain park offering will also be available at the top of the American Eagle lift boasting rail and jib features. At this time, Copper will not offer beginner or learning terrain on mountain for guests. The resort will open more terrain and lifts as conditions allow.
In addition to skiing and riding, Copper will open the Rocky Mountain Coaster for guests starting November 13. The coaster offers 5,800 ft of descending excitement, reaching speeds of up to 25 mph. Woodward Copper Barn will also be open daily starting on Monday, allowing for stoked senders to dial in their skills in the 19,000-square-foot action sports playground after spending time on the slopes. To learn more about the Rocky Mountain Coaster or Woodward Barn, visit CopperColorado.com.
Most notably this season, Copper Mountain will cut the ribbon on their new mid-mountain lodge, Aerie. This brand-new, unparalleled lodge is perched at the top of the American Eagle lift, elevating Copper’s on-mountain dining experience from start to finish. Forage and Feast, a full-service restaurant, will feature unique Colorado cuisine; Aerie bar & lounge will be the perfect spot to grab a drink and cheers to the start of the season; a five-station food hall will provide amplified options; and Camp Hale Coffee will serve up mid-day caffeine boosts as shredders work to get their ski legs back.
To ring in the new season, Copper has a weeklong line up of events planned.
Opening day excitement began at 7:30 a.m. in Center Village, where guests enjoyed free hot chocolate and energy bars as they get ready for their first turns on the mountain. The first 50 people in line at the American Eagle chairlift and gondola received a Copper fanny pack, complete with socks from Odell Brewing Company and a beer token to redeem at Jack’s Bar. DJs in both Center Village and on the Aerie deck provided beats that fueled the festivities.
The party continued into the weekend with Copper’s annual Snowsation festival. On Saturday, November 20, and Sunday, November 19, Copper will do its annual snow dance, a celebration that will feature live music, games, and good times in Center Village. Games will include a tire toss and a Subaru car-packing contest, with prizes on tap for the winners. Saturday will feature a free live music performance at 2:30 p.m. from Paco Versailles and DJ Trizz will close down the celebration on Sunday. Snowsation will wrap an electrifying week of season stoke at Copper.
Photo courtesy of Copper Mountain
Rainbows & Snowshine at Eldora
Turns out there really is gold at the end of the rainbow
NEDERLAND, COLORADO – Eldora, the backyard winter playground for Boulder, Denver, and Colorado’s northern Front Range, opened for skiing and riding earlier than expected on Friday, November 3.
Thanks to more than 15 inches of recent natural snow, cold temperatures ideal for snowmaking, and the hard work of the mountain operations teams, the Boulder County ski resort sent its first chair spinning a full two weeks ahead of its originally scheduled opening, which was November 17.
“Our incredible employees have done it again,” said Brent Tregaskis, Eldora’s president and general manager. “Thanks to their monumental efforts, we were able to open [earlier than expected]. Along with our beloved guests, our team members are what make Eldora such a special place and the go-to gathering spot for local skiers and riders for more than 60 years. We’re the perfect half-day mountain, where you can grab a couple hours of rejuvenating snow time and then get on with your day.”
New this season at Eldora, all Eldora sales operations are cashless. Cash-carrying guests can use the reverse ATM in Indian Peaks Lodge to convert cash to a debit card.
If you’re a cross-country skier, snowshoer, or uphill skier, Eldora’s nordic trail network and uphill access routes are dependent on natural snowfall and are set to open when conditions allow.
In May, Eldora broke ground a 12,000-square-foot lodge near the Lower Mountain, which will house Ignite Adaptive Sports and our children’s ski and ride school. This exciting project will be an active construction zone this winter and is slated to open for the 2024–25 season. Additionally, Eldora has installed a new roof on West Wing Lodge, made major snowmaking system upgrades, put new bathrooms in the parking lots and a new carpet in Indian Peaks Lodge, and added a solar-energy system at the Nordic Center.
That photo of the rainbow? It’s courtesy of our very own Pass Program & Partnership Specialist Derek Dvorak. And he took this one too:
Photo courtesy of Derek Dvorak
Loveland Opens for the 2023–24 Season
Loveland is open
GEORGETOWN, COLORADO – Loveland Ski Area is thrilled to announce its opening day for the 2023–24 season, set for Friday, November 10. Despite the challenges posed by unseasonably warm weather, the Loveland team, led by Chief Operating Officer Rob Goodell, is prepared to welcome skiers and snowboarders once again.
“We had some curveballs thrown at us with the warm weather, but we’re ready to turn the lifts for the 2023/24 season. Our dedicated snowmaking team has been working around the clock to take advantage of the cold temperatures, and Mother Nature helped out with some natural snow as well. We anticipate excellent conditions on Opening Day and are excited for another exceptional season at Loveland Ski Area.”
On Opening Day, Chet’s Dream, will be open to skiers and riders from 9:00 am until 4:00 pm. Loveland’s Opening Day offers a top-to-bottom run covered with an 18-inch base.
“We take great pride in our opening day run. The upper mountain has excellent coverage, and our snowmaking team is putting the finishing touches on Home Run and the base of Chet’s Dream. We are also very excited to offer a small terrain park for opening day” continued Goodell. “After completing the opening day run, our snowmakers will quickly shift their focus to open additional terrain as soon as possible.”
Last year, Loveland Ski Area opened on November 3.
Photo courtesy of Loveland Ski Area
This Season at Granby Ranch
Meanwhile, Back at the Ranch…
GRANBY, COLORADO – Workin’ on your night moves? Granby Ranch has added five more nights of night skiing to their calendar this winter.
New this year, experience the fun after dark with a guided night ski tour on a green run all to yourself. Gear up with a headlamp and a lighted vest—provided by the ski area—and get ready to enjoy a snowcat ride to the top of the East Mountain, followed by a run down an unlit trail with two Granby Ranch guides.
If you prefer your snow scene lit by the sun, you can experience Granby Ranch from a new perspective: on foot, on a Guided Snowshoe Trek (rentals available).
Rather ride than ramble? Cruise in comfort on a Scenic Snowcat tour in the ski area’s new passenger snowcat.
Gravity? Who needs it when miles of Nordic skiing, either on the mountain or on the golf course, await at Granby Ranch. If you have your own equipment, you can purchase trail access tickets online or at the base lodge ticket window.
Feeling ambitious? Check out Granby Ranch’s 2023–24 slate of skill-enhancing camps, including a carving camp, a women’s clinic, and a trick camp. Plus, you can buy a multi-week pass that gets you access to four consecutive weeks with the same instructor. Upgrade your skiing experience with an inclusive package for people of all ages, or go big with a full-day premium private lesson for families, friends, or a band of brothers (or sisters).
You’re going to need sustenance, snow lover, and there are plenty of quick-as-a-snowshoe-hare options in the Slopeside Dining Hall that’ll get you back on your skis or board lickety-split. If you want to linger (there’s no shame; we love lingering) enjoy lunch, dinner, and the full bar (but not everything, all at once) at the Blue Bird Bistro.
But wait… there’s more. Enjoy live music every Friday and Saturday in the 8350 Lounge, and don’t miss the expanded menu, featuring rations from the raw bar on Fridays and a made-to-order plate of pasta, sautéed up per your specifications and designed to fuel your adventures. On Sundays, the 8350 chefs sling stick-to-your-ribs grub you can wash down with a breakfast drink from the bar. (Or you could totally have an egg-white omelet and a grapefruit juice, which would also be delish.)
Photo courtesy of Granby Ranch
Purgatory Plans for Opening Day
Winter is in the air at Purgatory
DURANGO, COLORADO – Thanks to favorable weather conditions, snowmaking operations are officially underway at Purgatory.
A cold snap began on the last Sunday of October and is expected to persist until mid-week, particularly on the upper mountain areas above 9,000 feet. These conditions are ideal for concentrating early-season snow production efforts. Although temperatures are expected to rise after Wednesday, low humidity levels will allow snowmaking operations to continue even if temperatures are slightly above freezing.
Purgatory is anticipating a Saturday, November 18, opening day.
Photo courtesy of Purgatory Resort
Don’t Flurry. Be Happy.
Opening Day In Sight at Loveland
GEORGETOWN, COLORADO – Mother Nature dropped 11 inches of snow over the pre-Halloween weekend at Loveland Ski Area. Temperatures were in the single digits, and the ski area’s snowmakers were hard at work around the clock starting on Friday.
All the snowguns have been relocated from the top of Chet’s Dream and Catwalk to the bottom section of Mambo and Homerun. The Loveland Trail Maintenance crew has been moving the snow around in the snowcats, and the Loveland snowmaking team will cover the opening day run from tree-to-tree with an 18-inch base.
With an anticipated opening date in the next 1–2 weeks, Loveland Ski Area is planning for a full top-to-bottom run made up of the trails Catwalk, Mambo, and Home Run, comprising 1,000 vertical feet and over a mile in length.
For the latest updates on the snowmaking progress and opening day announcements, visit skiloveland.com/snowmaking.
Aspen’s Leadership Team Adds 2 Executives
Kevin Smith Named Chief Financial Officer & Stacy Reece Named Chief Digital Officer
ASPEN, COLORADO – Aspen One, the parent company of Aspen Skiing Company, Aspen Hospitality, and ASPENX, has announced the addition of two key executive leadership roles, naming Kevin Smith as chief financial officer and Stacy Reece as chief digital officer. Smith and Reece will each assume their duties in early November, 2023.
“I am thrilled to welcome both Kevin and Stacy to the Aspen One team,” said Dave Tanner, chief executive officer of Aspen One. “Kevin’s leadership track record in mountain and hospitality finance, operations, development, capital markets, and general management perfectly mirrors the emerging needs across our rapidly-growing portfolio. Similarly, Stacy’s digitally-native background, collaborative leadership style, and previous success in leading consumer digital transformation are the ideal mix to lead our next-generation digital strategies and investments. With their years of expertise in their respective fields and their industry-specific knowledge, both Kevin and Stacy will be instrumental to driving our enhanced growth and investment plans, continued business diversification, elevated guest service and innovation, and the expansion of the Aspen brand and ethos globally,” he continued.
Kevin Smith has over 25 years of progressive experience in the ski, hospitality, and real estate industries, including expertise in real estate development, operations, capital markets, M&A, and general management. Prior to his most recent role as president of Northland Living, the Real Estate Development Division of Northland Properties, Kevin was the executive vice president and CFO for Northland, where he oversaw 65 hotels, 175 restaurants, and two ski resorts—Revelstoke and Grouse Mountain. Before joining Northland, he was an executive vice president and CFO at both Intracorp Projects Ltd. and Whistler Blackcomb Holdings Inc. (during its IPO) and held several senior financial roles during his time with Intrawest, including CFO–Resort Operations. Kevin started his career in the ski industry at Copper Mountain, where he was the director of finance. Kevin currently lives in North Vancouver, Canada, with his wife, three kids and dog (named Aspen), is an avid hiker and skier; he will be relocating to Colorado in the near future.
Stacy Reece brings more than 25 years of experience leading digital, e-commerce, and online growth with a focus on comprehensive digital transformation and developing digital consumer communities. She most recently served as chief digital officer at Boardriders, where she led a multi-year digital resurgence across the global multi-brand, multi-channel branded action sports portfolio—driving a consumer data centric culture through an integrated global digital ecosystem. Reece previously served as the senior vice president of e-commerce and customer experience and the vice president of global e-commerce for the Billabong Group. Prior to that, she served as the CEO of Swell.com, the head of e-commerce at PacSun, the general manager of MP3.com, and the vice president–digital products and marketing, at Vivendi Universal. Stacy currently lives in Southern California with her husband and son, enjoys working out, skiing, and watching her son play sports.
On Your Mark. Get Set. Snow!
First Chair Spins At A-Basin, Ushering In the 2023–24 Ski Season
DILLON, COLORADO – The 2023-24 ski season officially kicked off in celebratory fashion in Colorado Ski Country USA at 8:30 am, on October 29, as Arapahoe Basin’s Black Mountain Express chairlift sent its first load of jubilant skiers and snowboarders through the opening day banner. As has become tradition, the first passengers were dedicated snow lovers, some of whom had begun their day with a pre-dawn parking lot breakfast—an avant ski, if you will.
The crowds arrived in good form, showing off Halloween costumes and enjoying the jubilant atmosphere of the official opening of Colorado’s legendary ski season—fittingly at the resort that’s Legendary for a Reason. Arapahoe Basin recently announced that October marks the first month it’s operating on 100% renewable electricity, which powers the lifts, buildings, electric vehicle chargers, and snowmaking.
Arapahoe Basin, along with several other Colorado Ski Country USA member ski areas, have been making snow for the last couple of weeks to ensure they’re ready for the excited skiers and snowboarders looking to take their first turns of the 2023-24 season. Temperatures dropped and with snowmaking conditions improving, more Colorado resorts are expected to be firing up their lifts in the next few weeks.
If you haven’t already, now’s the time get your CSCUSA passes and cards and get ready… set… snow!
The Righteous Gems Slopes
Cash In On a Gold Mine of Skiing & Riding at the Gems
Colorado is home to a handful of Bucket List resorts. You probably know them by name: Aspen. Snowmass. Steamboat. Telluride. They’ve earned their fame for a reason, and those reasons are sound and borne out by the experience you’ll undoubtedly have should you visit these storied ski areas (and we recommend that you do!).
But here in the great, glorious state of Colorado, in this state where snow falls so light and dry it’s been compared to champagne, where you can see it rainin’ fire in the sky, the Bucket List resorts are not your only option. If you want powder without the pretense, lifts without liftlines, and ticket prices that leave you with plenty of Pueblo-chile-and-fries money, look no further than our Gems.
You might not find them in your typical guidebook, but you will find them to be as quintessentially Colorado as, well… a bowl of Pueblo chile and a side of fries.
And you can ski or ride all of them with our Gems passes and cards.
Have Gems Discount Card (or Gems Teen or Parent Pass), Will Travel.
With the addition of our newest jewel Purgatory, the CSCUSA Gems now total eleven. And your Gems Discount Card (or your Gems Teen or Parent Passes) will get you on the slopes (quite affordably, if we do say so ourselves) of the most laid-back, most bona fide, most legit local ski areas in the state.
Let’s take a tour, shall we?
Arapahoe Basin is a crowd favorite for a number of reasons, not the least of which is that it boasts one of the longest ski seasons of any mountain in Colorado and, in really good years, in all of North America. Tucked away just over Loveland Pass and perched on the Continental Divide, Arapahoe Basin gets snow, snow, and more snow—hence, a storied history as the Opening Day headliner season after season. There’s terrain aplenty for everyone, no matter your skill level, but A-Basin is especially known for an abundance of moguls, steep and deeps, chutes, and tree runs.
Ski Cooper is the very definition of authentic Colorado skiing. It’s fun, friendly, and perfect for families. With the softest snow surface in the state and terrain for all abilities, from learning-to-ski on up to pushing-personal-limits, Cooper has a little something for everyone. What doesn’t Cooper have? Lift lines, high prices, and hordes of tourists, just to name a few. Plus, their outstanding ski and ride school will get you going or tweak your skills, if you’re looking to jump to the next level.
If live in Denver and you want to sneak in a weekday of skiing (Go on! We won’t tell your boss.), Echo is your mountain. Located less than an hour from the city and off the beaten-down-by-traffic path of I-70, Echo’s claims to fame include proximity, affordability, and hospitality, plus beautiful views of the Continental Divide. Want to ski after dark? You can do that five nights a week at Echo. Feeling the need for speed? Echo’s quick tubes are about as close as you can get to bobsledding, if you prefer to go downhill on your derrière. Want to try something new, make mistakes, and have some fun? We recommend [cups hand to ear] Echooooo–Echooooo-Echooooo!
Just 45 minutes west of Boulder in Nederland, Eldora is CU Boulder’s backyard mountain. Spanish majors will know that “Eldora” means gilded one, and if there’s not gold in them thar hills, there’s certainly lots of snow. Little Hawk Mountainside is the perfect place for beginners to get started, and Challenge Mountain is, well… a challenge, even for expert skiers and riders. Eldora is the only ski resort served by RTD, Colorado’s largest public transportation system, and that, combined with the ski area’s commitment to doing all they can to both protect the environment and support the surrounding community, make Eldora a real treasure.
Granby Ranch is a family-owned ski resort designed and operated with families in mind. Laid out across two mountains, East and West, this Gem of a ski area offers terrain of all types and tiers. Granby’s East side is designed for beginner and intermediate skiers, while the West side’s vibe is a little more wild, wild, er… West. Whichever direction you go—West, young man, or East-bound and down—all trails lead back to the base. (And if you’re anything like this directionally-challenged reporter, you know that means you can’t get lost.)
Named for the exceedingly handsome Greek god of the evening star, Hesperus ski area is, like its namesake, a gorgeous chunk of rock in the southwest corner of Colorado, from which are carved a total of two baker’s dozens, crowd-free runs. Hesperus (the god, not the mountain) would be pleased to note that a good part of Hesperus (the mountain, not the god) is lighted for night skiing, and there’s a tubing hill for kids. With a full fleet of rental equipment and a sweet ski school, you couldn’t find a more fitting place to visit if you’re learning to carve turns. Bonus points if you already knew that Hesperus is home to the only all-volunteer ski patrol in the state of Colorado. *NOTE: Hesperus has announced that, due to an unexpected mechanical failure on the Bighorn Chairlift, they are regretfully and officially closed for the 2023–24 season. We look forward to their return next season. Get well soon, Hespie!
Family owned and operated for nearly 60 years and a locals’ favorite for as long as anyone can remember, Loveland, located just before the Eisenhower tunnel on I-70, wraps around the interstate and is proof that somebody up there loves Coloradans. How else to explain the winter wonderland that is Loveland. Just starting out? Look to Loveland Valley, a stand-alone area designed for beginners, complete with its own lifts and gentle slopes. Looking for thrills and chills? Look no further than Loveland Basin, which offers bowl skiing, a terrain park, and acres and acres of pristine snow that’ll have you head over heels—metaphorically speaking, that is. You don’t fall, my friend.
Situated 20 miles west of Salida on U.S. Highway 50, Monarch sits majestically atop the Continental Divide and offers a king’s ransom of terrain. [Editor’s note: watch for falling puns.] There’s 130 acres of extreme, double-black-diamond skiing in Mirkwood Canyon; Tilt and Steel City, two terrain parks for beginners and advanced riders respectively; uphill access; and cat skiing with access to wide open bowls, steep chutes, beautiful glades, and tree skiing galore. In short, we recommend that you give yourself the royal treatment with a visit to Monarch Mountain.
Looking for a family-friendly ski area in the western part of the state? Allow this reporter to toot Powderhorn‘s, um… horn. [Editor’s note #2: we can’t make her stop; we’ve tried.] Sitting alongside the northern edge of Colorado’s Grand Mesa, the world’s largest flattop mountain, Powderhorn offers breathtaking 360-degree views and over 1,600 acres of mountain terrain. Powderhorn is justifiably proud of its groomed runs, but if your tastes run to the more wild and wooly, there are bumps and trees for the ambitious skier or rider.
This reporter is thrilled to report that she’s found a copywriter punnier than herself: our newest Gem Purgatory is, by their own reckoning, Closer to Heaven and Fun as Hell, and honestly, said reporter is a little miffed she can’t claim authorship for that doozy. Lexical lyricism aside, there’s nothing infernal about the hella great resort in Colorado’s southwest corner. With a blend of steep tree-skiing trails, wide-open cruisers with stunning views, and an average of 260 inches of snow annually, Purgatory is a family-friendly, winter wonderland. Need more reasons to go? They’ve expanded their free parking lots and added new equipment—including Burton snowboards—to their rental shop inventory.
Our last-but-not-least Gem is Sunlight Mountain, located above Glenwood Springs, with views of the Elk Mountain Range and Mt. Sopris. Let your little light shine on Sunlight Mountain’s 2,010 vertical-feet and 680 acres of groomers, steeps, and aspen groves. You’ll park for free, walk to the lifts, and never stand in line at Sunlight, making it a delightful destination for you and your ski tribe to experience an exceptional day on the slopes. In light of all that, we hereby give you the green light to ski Sunlight. [Editor’s note #3: sigh]
Now In the Starting Gate…
Racing at Copper Mountain Starts In 3-2-1-Go!
COPPER MOUNTAIN, COLORADO – It’s official: on Sunday, October 29, Copper Mountain opened for early season alpine ski race training. Despite the less-than-ideal snowmaking conditions, Mother Nature delivered the goods, and that, combined with a boost from the Copper Mountain Team, meant that athletes were carving up Copperopolis trail on Sunday.
Copper has been preparing its race venues on the upper mountain for the season since snowmaking began on Oct. 2. The Stifel U.S. Alpine Ski Team is expected to arrive at Copper in November to train on the U.S. Ski Team Speed Center, the only full-length downhill training venue available in the world this time of year. Copper Mountain is the Official Training Center for the U.S. Ski & Snowboard team and is the only resort in Colorado to hold this distinction, offering year-round training opportunities for alpine, snowboard, and freeski athletes.
Copper Mountain will officially open to the public for the 2023–24 winter season on November 13.
To learn more about the season ahead at the Athlete’s Mountain, visit Copper Mountain.
