Winter is always an exciting time for skiers and snowboarders! With a new ski season just beginning, we’re all wondering what the resorts have in store for us this year. Fortunately, five of the Chief Operating Officers from the local ski resorts were eager to share what they’ve been planning for this winter at the Summit Chamber of Commerce’s annual COO Summit held at the Keystone Conference Center this year. From lift renovations to freshly groomed trails and slope-side restaurants offering up hot cocoa with a view – you won’t want to miss out on these updates! Keep reading to discover how these COOs and their terrific teams plan to make your slope experience even better this season.
Loveland
First up, Rob Goodell, the Loveland COO announced their new offerings for their 2022-2023 season. The launch of guided snowcat tours this season is exciting for those who love high alpine, above timberline terrain, and will get skiers and snowboarders terrain access in Dry Gulch. Post-pandemic, all 4 of their on-mountain huts will be open with BBQ grills and plenty of views. And Lift 6 is upgraded to a new fixed-grip triple chair.
For the newbies, a Loveland Valley lodge experience is fresh and new with a 14,000 sq ft facility to give all the teams, kids, and families a place to spread out and warm up. They’re returning to their all-day lesson programs with lunch at Loveland Valley, which is welcome after putting that on hold during the pandemic.
The CDOT Snowstang is dropping skiers and riders at Loveland, and a new 500-space parking lot expansion is planned for 2024 east of the valley. Phew – that’s a lot of upgrades to the Loveland experience!
Copper Mountain
Dustin Lyman, Copper Mountain’s former NFL tight end, now COO of the resort, was on the podium next. Newly branded The Athlete’s Mountain, Copper Mountain is host to most of the world’s elite skiers and snowboarders at some point throughout the year – from Olympic to World Cup to Dew Tour competitors, Copper Mountain has built a reputation for hosting the best talent on snow and in the Woodward Barn. Copper offers unique access to on-mountain snow training for 11 months of the year.
The 2022-2023 season commemorates Copper’s 50th anniversary year with celebrations including the December 3rd blowout party and new events as part of Copper Live. Red’s backyard is moving up the mountain, Woodward is adding new park features, and there’s a new kid’s tree-log cluster trail. Construction on the long-awaited mid-mountain Solitude Station replacement building has been resumed and the new Aierie 25,000 sq ft facility will be a 2-story building with a lounge and cafeteria with 180-degree views when it opens, hopefully, next season.
Breckenridge
Our home mountain, Breckenridge, is led by COO Jody Churich, who is a real ski industry veteran, having been a ski instructor herself along with management and leadership roles at Vail Resorts.
This season, Jody launched a full-time, year-round daycare for employees of Breckenridge so they don’t have to worry about their little ones while serving guests. With the help and support of The Summit Foundation, there is also after-school care for children in the community, which is sorely needed here in Summit County.
The Town of Breckenridge and CDOT also have the Snowstang bus service coming to Breckenridge this season to help ease I-70 traffic congestion and provide skiers and snowboarders an alternative form of transportation to the mountain. They are also continuing their Breckenridge Outdoor Education Adaptive Program for riders with disabilities.
New for this season is the ripping down of the old, brown Kids Castle, and the construction of the brand new Rip’s Ride 4-pack chair up the beginner terrain at Peak 8. Last to be upgraded at Peak 8, next season Chair 5 will be upgraded to a high-speed quad, rounding out the full base of Peak 8 to new, high-speed lifts to move people from the base to their chosen area of the mountain.
Arapahoe Basin
Allen Henceroth, the COO of Arapahoe Basin took the mic after Jody. Celebrating the A-Basin summer season of weddings, via ferrata, bike trails, and ropes courses, the 2022-2023 ski season is offering a long-awaited chairlift upgrade.
The Lenawee Express went from a slow 3-chair to a high speed 6 pack, taking riders to high alpine terrain and providing access to the Steilhang Hut restaurant and Il Refugio dining, the latter of which has been expanded to twice its original size. This makes Arapahoe Basin’s lift system the newest in total in the country.
The famous A-Basin moonlight dinners and 6th Alley Supper Club dinners are back post-pandemic. May 6th is a rondane progressive dinner, which will be fun and unique. The Kids Club is coming back after a pandemic break.
And A-Basin is committed to becoming carbon neutral by 2025 (they’re at 68% now) and encourages visitors to use carbon-friendly transportation including the Summit Stage, carpooling, and the Snowstang from Denver.
Keystone
And last, but certainly not least, we enjoyed the final COO presentation from Chris Sorrenson, COO of Keystone Resort where the COO Summit was being held.
Although the Bergman Bowl project was slated to open this 2022-2023 season, there was an issue with a lift construction road being cut across an area it wasn’t approved to be located. So that project was paused in early July this summer and is slated to resume Summer of 2023 to open next season. Also, next season puts a new Peru Express lift on the list.
For this season 2022-2023, the focus is back on sustainability post-pandemic, with Keystone getting back to washable dining vs. one-time use utensils and dinnerware, which should reduce 483 tons of waste. Off-mountain activities are back to full service including Nordic skiing, sleigh rides, and ice skating on the lake. The Mountain House base area is back open this year, childcare is again available, night skiing is back, and kat skiing at Bergman Bowl is back along with 2 snow forts!
Local Resorts are Reinvesting Locally and are the Backbone of our Economy
We are so fortunate here in Breckenridge to have not 1 but 5 nearby world-class ski resorts to choose from with both summer and winter activities for adventurers of all ages and abilities.
All in all, Summit County’s resorts and towns are stronger than ever. With so many new activities and improvements, there has never been a better time to buy a property here, whether a second home, personal real estate or investment property. If you have been thinking about making the move to Breckenridge or the surrounding area, now is the time to call us and learn more about what we have to offer. Our experienced team can answer all your questions and help you find the perfect home for your needs. So what are you waiting for? Call us today!