Noticias

• Ski Patrol Union Votes to Accept Contract Proposal
• Regional Governments Talk Uncertain Economic Future
• Skiers, and Cowboys, and Horses, Oh My!

---

Ski Patrol Union Votes to Accept Contract Proposal

The Telluride Ski Patrol Union voted Thursday to accept the Telluride Ski Resort’s contract proposal, ending a nearly two-week strike.

“After long and lengthy discussion, we voted in favor of ratifying a new contract with TSG. This was our first non-unanimous ratification,” said Graham Hoffman, president of the Telluride Ski Patrol Union and a ski patroller who has worked at Telluride for 10 years.

Hoffman said that while the vote was not unanimous, the contract passed smoothly with strong support.

“As in any compromise, no side gets exactly what they want, and we’re grateful of the movement that TSG made in the last couple days. We’re grateful and we’re incredibly proud of where we ended up,” Hoffman said.

He noted the new contract does not fully address the union’s concerns about establishing a sustainable wage structure.

“We are still fighting and dismayed that we were unable to secure a fair, equitable wage structure that speaks to a sustainable, safe, and secure future for new and experienced patrollers. We will continue to advocate for that,” Hoffman said.

Hoffman added that discussions about patrol wages will continue beyond this contract.

“We’re kicking a different can down the road. We’re grateful for where we ended up. We’re humbled for the support we received. But this is still something that’s a serious concern of ours and it’s something that needs to be addressed. We hope we’re able to address that the next go around,” he said.

Hoffman said the union will not be discussing details of the compensation package included in the contract.

“We have been willing to be fully transparent and we have borne our wages to the public down to the penny, and I think we’ve had enough of people arguing over what is the perceived value of our lives. So, we will not be sharing our wage and benefits package,” he said.

After 13 days on strike, Hoffman said ski patrollers are eager to return to work.

“We’re looking forward to serving as the Telluride Ski Patrol once again. We’re looking forward to getting as much of this mountain open as quickly as we can. We will do our best to safely do so,” Hoffman said.

He thanked community members who supported the patrol during contract negotiations.

“Everyone who has reached out, who has sent quiet or loud symbols, signs, or letters of support, we are so grateful. We know this was a bit divisive in the community, but we’re incredibly grateful of everyone who has supported us and we will look to support the community in turn moving forward,” Hoffman said.

Hoffman acknowledged the strike caused what he described as “ugly rifts” and said he hopes the community can heal.

“I think it also exposed some ugly truths that we’re going to have to grapple with as a community. I think it exposed a bit of an ugly underbelly of what is a broken system, and what is breaking down here in town. We hope that we’ll be able to heal and move forward,” he said.

In a statement, Steve Swenson of Telluride Ski Resort said the company is “delighted” the parties reached an agreement. The resort thanked the community for its patience during negotiations and said it is excited for the rest of the season.

Telluride Ski Resort said it plans to open Chair 4 on Saturday, Jan. 10, along with Butterfly, Lower Misty Maiden and Boomerang runs. The resort’s next goal is to open the Super Loop, with additional lifts and terrain to follow.

---

Regional Governments Talk Uncertain Economic Future

The towns of Telluride and Mountain Village held a joint meeting Wednesday evening before a packed room, with additional attendees joining online, to discuss how to move forward amid ongoing economic uncertainty.

Mountain Village Town Manager Paul Wisor opened the meeting by acknowledging the challenges facing the region.

“Rightly so, tensions are high, people are scared, and I can empathize with that. Those are all really natural and legitimate feelings to have at this moment, especially given how uncertain everything feels right now,” Wisor said.

He said he believes in the community’s ability to persevere.

“While this feels really unique, it’s certainly not the first time this community has been in this situation, and I think it’s important that we remember that. This community, that we love so much, is the result of a — then dying — mining town, facing far greater economic challenges than we face today. Out of those challenges, they were able to come together, work together, and persevere to create this very community,” Wisor said.

To help residents navigate economic hardship, the Telluride Foundation is expanding the reach of its Good Neighbor Fund, a safety net designed to support individuals and families during times of crisis.

“This is quite literally neighbor taking care of neighbor in a moment of crisis,” said Jason Corzine, president and CEO of the Telluride Foundation.

“That fund is really to help you pay your most crucial bills — rent, medical bills, anything related to a crisis — that is a difference between you having to leave the community and being able to stay in the community and weather an economic storm,” Corzine said.

The foundation is expanding eligibility for the Good Neighbor Fund to include individuals who have lived in the community since Dec. 15 and is increasing the maximum assistance amount to $2,500.

Applicants will not receive funds directly. Instead, the foundation will pay landlords, child care providers, medical providers or other entities on behalf of recipients.

While the Good Neighbor Fund focuses on individuals and families, leaders at the meeting also discussed creating a similar program for businesses. The towns of Telluride and Mountain Village, along with the Telluride Mountain Village Owners Association, are calling the proposed effort the STEADY Program — Short Term Economic Assistance for Disrupted Years Program.

“This program is intended to prevent businesses from closing, or otherwise laying off individuals who will then leave the community, thus rendering those businesses unable to operate at a capacity we need them to operate when we return to normalcy,” Wisor said.

Under the proposal, the towns would implement a tiered structure to support businesses most impacted by the current economy. Funds would help cover fixed costs and a percentage of other business expenses.

The towns plan to vote within the next week on allocating funds for the STEADY Program.

In Norwood, the Board of Trustees held a work session Tuesday to discuss community impacts stemming from the Telluride Ski Patrol strike and resort closure.

Mayor Candy Meehan described the situation as “the topic at the forefront of everyone’s minds,” stressing the importance of being proactive rather than reactive.

“If we don’t take this info in as trustees, we will fall further behind when people’s needs come to us,” Meehan said.

Trustee Michael Grady proposed conducting a survey or establishing a town-administered intake program to collect information and give residents a centralized place to report hardships. The data could include impacts on businesses and households, ranging from child care and transportation to clothing, food and shelter, and whether those impacts are immediate or anticipated.

“At this stage, it’s too difficult to predict outcomes,” Grady said.

“What we’re doing here now is the most important thing we can be doing. It isn’t about personal opinions. This is about what we can do for our community and for our community members, and I think it starts with what we’re talking about,” he said.

Trustee Liza Tanguay, who also serves as executive director of the Norwood Park and Recreation District, also addressed the issue.

“All we need to do is figure out how to support citizens best, what resources we have to support our citizens best and where we stand in our responsibilities in those areas of support,” Tanguay said.

The Norwood Board of Trustees agreed to place the topic on the agenda for its next regular meeting, calling it “a conversation worth having.”

Applications for the Good Neighbor Fund are currently available to individuals who live or work in San Miguel County and the West End of Montrose County. To qualify, applicants must have been employed in the region since at least Dec. 15, 2025.

More information is available at telluridefoundation.org. Information on applying for unemployment benefits can be found at cdle.colorado.gov/unemployment. A full list of regional food resources is available through the Tri-County Health Network at tchnetwork.org/food-resources.

Funding through the STEADY Program will be available once the program is established.

---

Skiers, and Cowboys, and Horses, Oh My!

Skijoring officially premiered in 1901 at the Nordic Games in Stockholm, Sweden.

More than a century later, adrenaline-seekers in Ouray County are keeping the tradition alive.

“A horse and rider pull a skier through an obstacle course at a very high rate of speed. Sometimes they’re reaching 35 to 40 miles per hour, while the skiers have to go over jumps and navigate around gates that are set in the ground,” said Richard Webber, co-founder of San Juan Skijoring.

This weekend in Ridgway, skiers, cowboys and equine athletes will compete for the 10th year to prove they are the best of the best.

“We’ll have over 200 teams competing. This year we’ll be giving out over $52,000 in prize money over the three days. We’ll have 6,000 spectators. This is the most elite race, right here in Ridgway. It is a race that you do not want to miss,” Webber said.

Considered one of the largest skijoring competitions in the United States, the event draws competitors from Colorado, Utah, California, New Mexico, Idaho, Wyoming, Montana and Canada, according to Webber.

He described skijoring as a true team sport.

“You need a fast horse. You need a rider that’s qualified. You need a skier that’s capable of making those gates and going over the jumps. It’s really a team sport. It takes all three components to have a good team. It’s probably the most difficult race in the country to win,” Webber said.

He added that success also requires a bit of luck.

“To win this it’s 30% rider, 30% skier, 30% horse, and 10% luck to win San Juan,” Webber said.

This year’s competition will feature standard events including junior, snowboard and gap jump divisions. For the second year in a row, the event will also include the twisted switch.

“The rider and skier go halfway through the course, and they have to switch. It is absolute carnage. It is so fun. You see these people trying to get on a horse in ski boots. It’s the funniest thing you’ve seen. One guy last year, he only got one ski on and his rider took off and he had to finish the track with one ski. The crowd was going wild. It was absolutely hilarious,” Webber said.

For those curious about attending, Webber said the choice is easy.

“This weekend, if you’re not at skijoring, there’s something wrong with you. I tell everybody, ‘Come out and watch San Juan Skijoring. It’s the most fun you can have with your pants on,’” he said.

San Juan Skijoring will take place at the Ouray County Fairgrounds in Ridgway from Friday, Jan. 9, through Sunday, Jan. 11. Events begin daily at 10:30 a.m. with junior, snowboard and twisted switch competitions.

Friday will feature Friday Night Lights in the slopestyle and open ski divisions beginning at 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday will include the pro division, with the gap jump starting at 2 p.m. Awards will be presented Saturday and Sunday at 6 p.m.

---

Waring Named Chair of San Miguel County Commissioners

In an administrative transition, San Miguel County Commissioner Lance Waring was selected Wednesday to serve as chair of the Board of County Commissioners for 2026.

Commissioner Anne Brown made the motion.

“I move that we appoint Lance Waring as chair for 2026, and Galena Gleason for 2026,” Brown said.

The commission chair is not elected by voters. Instead, the role rotates annually among commissioners. The chair is responsible for presiding over Board of County Commissioner meetings.

Waring will serve as chair for 2026. Brown served as chair in 2025.

---

Telluride Fire District Hosts Community Chili Dinner

The Telluride Fire Protection District will host a free community chili dinner Saturday.

A total of 300 meals will be available and served while supplies last. Vegetarian options will also be offered.

The Community Chili Dinner will take place at Fire Station 1 in Telluride beginning at 5 p.m.

---

Former Forest Service Supervisor Warns Budget Cuts Raise Wildfire Risk

The Trump administration reduced budgets and staff at many federal agencies, including those that manage much of the public lands in the West.

One affected employee was Scott Fitzwilliams, who served as supervisor of the White River National Forest in western Colorado. He opted for early retirement not long after the administration fired thousands of employees at the Forest Service and the Department of the Interior.

Fitzwilliams said the impacts of budget and staffing cuts at the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management may not be immediately visible, but they are significant.

“I’m really concerned, especially with the lack of snowpack this year, that the divesting in fuels mitigation work because we’re emphasizing commercial timber—every year that goes by, we’re playing with fire, literally. If we’re not doing fuels mitigation, we’re increasing the probability we’re going to have a major wildfire,” Fitzwilliams said.

He added that while agencies like the Forest Service and BLM are not perfect, reducing their budgets and staff is not the solution.

---

Colorado Lawmakers React to Maduro Arrest

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores pleaded not guilty to narco-terrorism charges in a New York courtroom on Monday, Jan. 5.

Prosecutors allege that the Maduros and accomplices engaged in a cocaine-trafficking conspiracy and partnered with cartels designated as terrorist groups.

President Trump said after the operation to capture Maduro that the US will “run” Venezuela and tap into its crude oil reserves.

As KDNK’s Lily Jones reports for Rocky Mountain Community Radio, Colorado state lawmakers are divided on the U.S’ actions.

Story beings at 14:00.

---

BLM Archaeologist Highlights Thousands of Years of History on Public Lands

Anyone who recreates, lives, or works on public lands may not always realize they’re moving through places shaped by thousands of years of human history.

From ancient hunting grounds to more recent homesteads, many of those stories are written on the landscape.

Catie Freels is an archaeologist with the Bureau of Land Management, based in Kremmling, Colorado.

Part of her job is helping identify and protect that history across the region’s public lands.

For Rocky Mountain Community Radio, KFFR’s Ryan Wilson spoke with Freels about the deep history of these places, and what it means to care for and preserve them today.

Story beings at 15:45.