News

The Telluride Ski Resort will close indefinitely beginning Saturday.

In a news release, the resort said the decision followed a vote by the Telluride Ski Patrol Union to authorize a strike.

Telski representative Steve Swenson said the resort will “continue to work on a plan that allows us to safely open again as soon as possible.”

Contract negotiations between Telski and the Ski Patrol Union began in early June, and the previous contract expired in August. The two sides held a final round of negotiations over the weekend. On Sunday, ski patrol presented a contract proposal.

Telluride Ski Patrol Union President Graham Hoffman said the union made significant concessions.

“We significantly lowered our ask, and eliminated the ask for the health care stipend entirely, we lowered the wages, put a cap on some things. We went uncomfortably below what we considered our bottom line. We were abundantly clear with the company that this is the bottom number,” Hoffman said.

Telski countered with what it described as its “last, best, and final” offer, which had originally been proposed earlier this month. The Ski Patrol Union overwhelmingly rejected that offer, with 99% voting against it on Dec. 8. Telski has previously described the offer as “generous and market leading.”

The Ski Patrol membership voted down the proposal again Tuesday night.

“After a very long, honestly painful, very honest and open conversation with our membership, we took everything into consideration of our group, of what’s been going on, of our community, of our friends and how this is going to affect everything. It was honestly a very hard conversation. It was very difficult. We voted to authorize a strike,” Hoffman said.

Following that vote, the Telluride Ski Resort announced Wednesday afternoon that it would close.

In a statement, resort owner Chuck Horning said the decision to close was not made by the resort, placing blame on ski patrol. Horning said the company was “naturally disappointed that the Ski Patrol made this choice during such a busy time.” He added, “we are concerned that any organization, particularly one that exists to help people, would do something that would have such a devastating effect on our community.”

In a statement to KOTO, Ski Patrol Union Treasurer Jess Lyles disputed that characterization.

“Rather than give us a fair contract, Telski has made the decision to close the mountain,” Lyles said. “Don’t be fooled, this is on Chuck.”

On social media, Telski announced it will offer refunds to ticket and pass holders, including advance-purchase lift tickets, ski and snowboard school products, and unused multiday lift tickets. Pro-rated refunds will also be provided for season pass holders.

Ski patrol members will continue working through Friday. The union plans to begin picketing at 9 a.m. at the base of the gondola in Telluride and Mountain Village.

“We would love for anyone to come stand with us. Put on some red, or whatever you’ve got at home and come support us on the picket line. We’ll be there every day. We don’t know how long this is going to go,” Hoffman said.

The Telluride Ski Resort is scheduled to close Saturday, Dec. 27.

Customers with questions about refunds can contact [email protected] for lift tickets and passes and [email protected] for ski school refunds.