On With The Show – Ski Cooper Opens!

Leadville’s Ski Hill Makes A Run of It!

Ski Cooper plans on moving forward with its December 9 Opening of 2020-21 season this Wednesday despite less than optimal snow conditions and fast-changing public health restrictions due to the current COVID-19 Pandemic.

“We have made some changes to our facilities and operations for the 2020-2021 ski season,” stated Cooper’s General Manager Dan Torsell as he addressed the audience for the annual Community Meeting held this year held via a You Tube live stream.

“Our goal is to provide the same great skiing and snowboarding experience that we have become accustomed to over the years while adhering to mandated requirements.  We ask that you please help us keep our doors open and the Cooper lifts spinning by understanding and complying with these changes.”

Cooper to Open Slopes on Dec. 9

Readers and skiers can learn what to expect at Ski Cooper by checking out a series of videos the recreational facility produced ahead of the season featuring General Manager Dan Torsell explaining the changes for everything from entry to the ski area to the rental shop to the foodservice area. Here’s an overview of changes out at Ski Cooper this year.

Ski Cooper is implementing new restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic this season. Photo: Leadville Today/Brennan Ruegg

Access passes, and both season and a single day pass will be sold only on the Ski Cooper website and through their call center. No access passes will be sold on-site or at other former offsite locations. You may pick up your pre-purchased access pass at our new will-call window if you don’t already have a Cooper Key Card. Furthermore, the number of single-day access passes available each day will be limited, in order to manage the number of guests at the area each day. Passes may be purchased online or by phone up to ten days before the date of your visit. Tickets purchased prior to 48 hours before the date of your visit will be significantly discounted.

A valid Pass is required for entry during operating hours (8 a.m. – 4 p.m.), whether you are skiing, uphilling, eating in the lodge, or any other activity……think: “theme park entry”. You pay to get in regardless of what you are doing.  A Pass is not required between 5 p.m. and 6 a.m. for those who would like to “uphill”.  Please note that there will be no entry between 4 – 5 p.m. and between 6 – 8 a.m.  This system will enable us to keep tabs on how many people are onsite, allowing us to manage our numbers and provide a good experience for all while complying with COVID restrictions per local and state requirements.  It also eliminates the delay of continual scanning before each lift ride.

Entry To the Ski Area

In this video, Ski Cooper‘s President Dan Torsell, tells you what to expect for gaining entry to Cooper for the 2020-21 Season. In short, users should see their vehicles as their own “private lodge,” explains Leadville’s ski hill General Manager.

You will not be permitted to bring with you through the Port of Entry Gate, items that you cannot keep on your person while skiing/riding. Items including but not limited to, backpacks, travel bags, boot bags, extra clothing, coolers, grocery bags, storage bins, food, drinks, etc. must be kept in your vehicle and not brought into the area. This will help to ensure that personal belongings are not stored in base area buildings, helping to minimize potential germ transmission hazards.  If you choose to bring your own food with you (unless it fits in your pocket), you must store it in your vehicle and then return to your vehicle and enjoy your lunch or snacks there.

Navigating Around the Ski Hill

In this video, Ski Cooper’s President and General Manager, Dan Torsell, tells you what to expect as you move about the lodge and common areas at Cooper for the 2020-21 Season. Most importantly, ALL employees and guests are required to wear a face-covering when indoors, in the base area, in the lift lines, on lifts, and on the slopes when unable to maintain six-foot distancing, which is not normally the case when skiing. Face coverings are required when you are in these parts of our operation without exception. If a guest is unable or unwilling to wear a face-covering in these circumstances, the guest will be denied access in order to limit the risk of COVID-19 exposure to other guests and employees.

Outside, the lanes in the lift mazes will be configured to accommodate physical distancing. Groups traveling together may ride Chairlifts or the T-Bar together; singles should ride alone.

Rentals and What’s New This Year

In this video, Ski Cooper’s President and General Manager, Dan Torsell, tells you what to expect at the Ski Cooper Rental Shop for the 2020-21 Season. The indoor spaces of each building will be reconfigured to maintain required distances by spacing out seating, using physical distancing signage and markers on the floors, and managing one-way flows where deemed appropriate.

Cooper will offer Ski School lessons on an individual, family, or cohort basis only – there will be no mixed groups.  Lessons will be offered to those age 7 and over with meeting times at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.  These lessons must be scheduled and paid for in advance, by phone only.  Please note that there will be no children’s programs or daycare services this season.

Changes include enhanced sanitation procedures have been adopted, per CDC guidelines for high-touch surfaces such as restrooms, door handles, countertops, tables, chairs, benches, rails, kiosks and touch screens. Guests will notice the new hand sanitizing stations provided throughout the area.

What’s On The Menu at Cooper?

In this video, Ski Cooper’s President and General Manager Dan Torsell, tells you what to expect for dining and eating options at Ski Cooper for the 2020-21 Season. There’s a new pizza parlor located across from Katie O’Rourke’s Irish Pub. Scott Camp and the crew will be back, ready to serve you something hot and fresh from the oven!

Guests will be required to wear face coverings at all indoor locations, except while sitting at table, and at outdoor locations as signage indicates (lift lines, base area plaza, base lodge deck, mountaintop yurt deck, ski & ride school meeting areas, etc.).

If you bring your own food/drink, you must leave it in your vehicle and return to your vehicle to consume it. Also, tailgating with people not in your party (group you arrived with) and/or congregating in the parking lot is PROHIBITED this year.

What Ski Cooper Expects from Guests

1. Stay home if you are sick or have been in proximity to a person who is COVID positive.
2. Wear your face covering when indoors, in the base area, in the lift lines, and outdoors when unable to properly maintain a physical distance of at least 6 feet from others. Face coverings are required in these parts of our operation without exception. If you are unable or unwilling to wear a face-covering in these circumstances, you will be denied access in order to limit the risk of COVID-19 exposure to other Guests and Employees. If you cannot or will not meet this requirement, please refrain from visiting Cooper this season.
3. Please practice social distancing by standing at least 6 feet apart from individuals not traveling in your party.
4. Ski/Ride on weekdays, if possible, and avoid high volume weekends and holidays.
5. Wash or sanitize your hands often when onsite and especially indoors.
6. Do not move the tables in the seating areas or crowd the walkways.
7. Leave your personal items in your vehicle, at home, or in your hotel – you will not be permitted to bring them into the area. This includes coolers, storage bins, backpacks, bags, lunches, strollers, shoes, extra clothing, etc.
8. Dress appropriately before you arrive or at your vehicle. Boot-up at your vehicle instead of leaving your shoes in the lodge.
9. If you bring your own food/drink, you must leave it in your vehicle and return to your vehicle to consume it.
10. Tailgating with people not in your party (group you arrived with) and/or congregating in the parking lot is prohibited this year.

By visiting Ski Cooper, you voluntarily assume all risks related to exposure to COVID-19. Please note: there are no recognized ADA exemptions that allow the public or guests from opting out of wearing masks or face coverings at businesses or places of public accommodation.

The Annual Community Meeting – November 2020

In this video, Ski Cooper’s President and General Manager Dan Torsell conducts the Annual Community Meeting via YouTube live stream to tell residents and guests what to expect at Cooper for the 2020-21 Season.