Noticias

• The Eve of the Telski Shutdown

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The Eve of the Telski Shutdown

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.

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

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On the eve of the shutdown, KOTO News went to the streets to talk with people around town about how they are feeling.

Liz Ramshaw works at the Gondola and said she supports ski patrol.

“I think what they’re doing is pretty admirable, and I know a lot of people it’s a little disappointing, but also, I mean, there’s not really snow anyway, so I think, you know, however long it takes them, then they should take. And it is a little disappointing, but also you know, you gotta do what you have to do,” Ramshaw said.

Andres Vargas Johnson, one of the owners of the Alibi, said the closure is a shame.

“It feels like they’re no winners in this situation. What we can all do is help each other where we can, be kind to each other. At the end of the day, it sucks, and it’s going to hurt us more than just this week and January,” Johnson said.

But, he added, if the skiing is bad, the drinking is good.

“When we heard it was closing down, besides being disappointed, we wanted to see what we could do to give back to the community. We’re happy help out patrollers. If they’re not working at least they can come get a beer at the bar and listen to some good music,” Johnson said.

Kiera Skinner, executive director of the Telluride Tourism Board, said because the destination has not experienced a ski resort-related strike before, it is difficult to determine the economic impact of the shutdown.

“We haven’t received many cancellations over the holidays or the broader ski season, although that could change based on the recent announcement,” Skinner said.

She said the tourism board remains hopeful that Telski and the ski patrol union can come to a resolution.

“We remain hopeful that the parties will continue working towards a resolution in the coming days so that we can move forward with a successful winter,” Skinner said.

Kristen Permakoff, who has been a ski instructor in Telluride for more than 30 years, shared that sentiment.

“I never thought anything like this would happen in Telluride. It’s so disappointing, it’s so disappointing that a compromise could not be reached after months and months and months of talks. And it’s really unfortunate that a small group of people can shut down an entire winter economy. I just hope that the ski company and the patrol can come to an agreement at some point for the best of us all, because it’s a big winter economy we have here. And we’re here for the mountain, you know, we’re here to ski and snowboard and enjoy it and it’s really frustrating when it’s not going to be open, because people couldn’t agree,” Permakoff said.

Benjamin Whiting said he wants people to see both sides of the issue.

“To blame this on one side or the other, I think is unfortunate. I think a lot of locals like to do that because they have strong feelings, but they’re not in the shoes of either side. And it does take two sides, there are two sides to every story, every adult should know that. And I just wish that people more and more would defend both sides, instead of just one,” Whiting said.

Carly Berryhill, visiting from Texas, said the shutdown is a bummer.

“My older sister is married to an Australian, and his whole family came in town this year, they never come to America, so it was like a big deal and they were super excited, and we just have all these international people coming and it’s a bummer. And you know, hate to see it, it seems like it’s a lose-lose on both ends, but I guess that’s how it is,” Berryhill said.

For Chris Mastriano, the shutdown could impact how long he is able to stay. He came to Telluride to work for the winter.

“It’s a little shocking but also not. You know I think, I think it is important that local community stands behind ski patrol, especially — they’re really the only reason we can ski these big mountains, is they make it safe. It’s interesting to see how the trickle-down effect is happening with their strike, you know it’s kind of all around affecting the whole community, the whole town economy. But I think it is important that we do stand behind them and pay our people. I flew in from Rhode Island and I might be leaving soon, I don’t know!” Mastriano said.

At Exceptional Stays, a vacation rental management company, Natalie Price is the director of sales.

“It’s tough. I support ski patrol and I understand what’s happening here. I also understand that the ski resort is a privately run business and it’s really unfortunate for the impact of these negotiations on so many people,” Price said.

She said she has been having difficult conversations with visitors for the past two days.

One challenge, Price said, is that most lodging reservations for the next several weeks are nonrefundable.

“While everyone wants to cancel, that’s not something we can necessarily make an exception for,” she said.

She said guests with reservations later in the season are choosing to cancel.

At the same time, Price said the community needs to keep its chins up and stay positive.

“We’ve weathered a few storms over the years – through COVID and through rough winter openings. It only works when we can all work together and do the best that we can to represent Telluride for the special place that it is,” Price said.

The Telluride Ski Resort will close for the time being on Saturday, Dec. 27. Telski said it is working on a plan to reopen the resort safely as soon as possible, but does not currently have a reopening date.

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With the shutdown, the towns of Telluride and Mountain Village are working to provide activities for visitors over the coming week.

In Telluride, the Parks and Recreation Department is offering two free open ice-skating events at the Hanley Ice Rink.

A Pajama Skate is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 27, from 1:30 to 3 p.m., with pajamas encouraged. On Wednesday, Dec. 31, from 1:45 to 3:45 p.m., the department will host a GLOW Skate featuring special lighting and a festive atmosphere.

Ice skates will be available for rent at the Nordic Center, and free hot cocoa will be provided by Coffee Cowboy.

To help with transportation around town, Telluride will offer free parking from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays through Jan. 3. All other parking regulations will remain in effect.

The town also noted that many local retailers will be extending their hours and staying open until 8 p.m.

Telluride’s New Year’s Eve celebration will begin at 10:30 p.m. on Dec. 31. Main Street between Aspen and Fir streets will be closed to vehicles for live music, a street dance and a fireworks display.

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In Mountain Village, the town and the Telluride Mountain Village Owners Association will host programming throughout the village center.

Beginning Friday and running through New Year’s Day, an Alpacas Meet & Greet will take place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Sunset Plaza. Reflection Plaza will host ice skating and DJ skate parties from 3 to 5 p.m. and from 6:15 to 8:15 p.m. each day.

Heritage Plaza will feature a 23-foot ice sculpture on display, along with light-mapping shows projected onto the Madeline Hotel nightly from 6 to 7 p.m.

At the Telluride Conference Center, Mountain Village and TMVOA will host a Kids Activity Zone from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The venue will also host Mountain Village Movie Nights. Doors will open at 7 p.m., with films beginning at 7:30 p.m. Movie nights are free and open to the community.

Beginning Friday, Dec. 26, and running nightly through Thursday, Jan. 1, the films scheduled are:

• Friday, Dec. 26: Home Alone
• Saturday, Dec. 27: Top Gun
• Sunday, Dec. 28: Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle
• Monday, Dec. 29: How to Train Your Dragon
• Tuesday, Dec. 30: Mission Impossible – Final Reckoning
• Wednesday, Dec. 31: The Goonies
• Thursday, Jan. 1: Free Guy

A Torchlight Parade and fireworks display are scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. on New Year’s Eve.