Snowmaking Boost at Telluride

With an average of more than 300 inches of snow, along with around 300 days of sunshine each year, Telluride Ski Resort is a popular snow sport destination in the mountains of Colorado. Founded in 1878, Telluride was an important trading post during the gold rush era, but with the mines shutting down in 1953, families moved away and the town was all but deserted until, thanks to a wealthy entrepreneur named Joe Zoline, the snow-covered mountains were turned into a ski area boasting five lifts and a day lodge. Ever since, Telluride has kept up with the times, making improvements for the benefit of snow sport enthusiasts who visit each year, and there are a number of enhancements and new features visitors can look forward to in the 2013-2014 snow skiing season.

In recent years, Telluride has been marketed as being “Unmatched in North America“, but the resort has chosen to use the tagline of “The Most Beautiful Place You’ll Ever Ski” for the new season. Director of Telluride’s public relations and communications, Tom Watkinson, noted that the tagline was chosen to focus on the natural surroundings of the resort, which is an aspect guests appreciate and value.

To ensure that skiing and snowboarding enthusiasts spend less time traveling, flights to the two local airports – Telluride and Montrose – will be increased in the winter months. Round-trip flights will be offered between Montrose and Denver, Phoenix, Chicago, Los Angeles, Dallas and Houston, while Great Lake Airlines will continue to operate flights between Denver and Telluride. This initiative promoted by the Colorado Flights Alliance will overcome the challenge of gaining access to the relatively remote ski area.

During the off-season period Telluride spent $1 million upgrading snowmaking facilities and increasing its number of snow-guns. These upgrades mean that more snow can be made much faster and with less waste – all good news for skiers and riders itching to hit the slopes. With snowmaking crews working 24-hours a day in 12-hour shifts, snowmaking is set to start in late October, continuing through to February. New grooming equipment is ready to start preparing the slopes as soon as they are covered in snow. So, make your plans now for a snow skiing holiday at Telluride in Colorado.