[PHOTOS] Athletes Take to the Snow for Copper Mountain, CO’s, 50th Season

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Credit: Carly Piper via Copper Mountain

Alpine athletes logged their first official day on snow at Copper for early season alpine race training today, on Oct. 22 

Copper will welcome the general public to the slopes to celebrate 50 years of the resort on November 14 

Copper Mountain‘s preparations for winter are well underway, and the resort is excited to report the first athletes of the season have taken to the hill. Alpine ski racers made their first carves at the Athlete’s Mountain as of this morning, marking the unofficial start to Copper’s 50th Anniversary season. With skiing now underway, the resort is three weeks away from welcoming the general public to the mountain for a season filled with endless action and memorable moments.

EARLY SEASON RACE TRAINING 

Copper began snowmaking operations on October 4. Crews have been hard at work prepping the upper mountain for fall race training. Each fall, Copper hosts athletes from around the globe including local, regional and national talent, to train on specially prepared race venues. The resort officially welcomed teams to train on the Copperopolis trail earlier today. Over the next few weeks, the U.S. Alpine Ski team will arrive at Copper Mountain to utilize the resort’s U.S. Ski Team Speed Center and Alpine Technical Center to fine-tune their speed and tailor their technical skills in preparation for the 2022-23 Alpine World Cup season. The Speed Center offers athletes the only full-length downhill training venue in the world this time of year.

Copper is an Official Training Center for the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Team. The resort maintains a longstanding history of supporting alpine athletes in training and competition. Copper hosted the 1976 World Cup just four years after the resort’s inaugural season, along with multiple U.S. National Championships throughout the 1980s and 1990s. Copper has supported early season training for U.S. Alpine athletes for over a decade and has recently expanded its partnership with the U.S. team to also support snowboard and freestyle skiing athletes ahead of the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympic Games.

copper mountain, colorado,
Credit: Carly Piper via Copper Mountain

OPENING DAY NOVEMBER 14 

Skiers and riders can earn early season turns at Copper, starting Monday, Nov. 14. Those that choose to ring in the 50th season at Copper on opening day will be treated to swag giveaways, a first chair celebration and a live DJ set. Opening day terrain will be announced closer to Nov. 14. Excitement will carry through to the weekend with live music at Copper’s annual Snowsation festival, happening on Nov. 19 and 20.

Festivities to kick off the milestone season start well before the lift turns. Grab any last-minute gear at the Team Summit Ski & Snowboard Swap at the Copper Conference Center on Nov. 11-13. Proceeds from the Ski Swap will benefit local Team Summit athletes. On Nov. 13, Copper will kick the season hype into high gear with a showing of Matchstick Productions’ latest film Anywhere From Here, which features local 12-year-old athlete Walker Woodring and includes shots filmed at Copper’s Woodward Mountain Park. The film will be shown at Ten Mile Tavern in Center Village and will include giveaways like new skis and goggles. Filmgoers can also participate in Ten Mile’s annual Mug Club and receive deals on drafts throughout the season.

Visit CopperColorado.com to learn more about the resort’s season kickoff events. 

coper mountain, colorado,
Credit: Carly Piper via Copper Mountain

CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF COPPER 

In 50 years of skiing and riding at Copper Mountain, the resort has grown from offering five chairlifts servicing 22 runs, to today’s layout of 155 trails, over 2,500 skiable acres, four mountain bowls, and the inclusion of the Woodward Mountain Park. Copper’s storied history is being celebrated in a number of ways this season, from commemorative swag items to a 50th Anniversary Party. The 50th Anniversary Party will take place on Dec. 3, to coincide with the resort’s original opening on Dec. 5, 1972. Guests are invited to the mountain to show their 50th spirit and enjoy live music in Center Village. More information about 50th-anniversary celebrations will be shared throughout the season.

Copper Mountain’s preparations for winter are well underway, and the resort is excited to report the first athletes of the season have taken to the hill. Alpine ski racers made their first carves at the Athlete’s Mountain as of this morning, marking the unofficial start to Copper’s 50th Anniversary season. With skiing now underway, the resort is three weeks away from welcoming the general public to the mountain for a season filled with endless action and memorable moments.

Learn more about Copper Mountain’s 2022-23 winter season at CopperColorado.com

copper mountain, colorado,
Credit: Carly Piper via Copper Mountain

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