For a number of years Crested Butte Mountain Resort (CBMR), located smack dab in the middle of the Colorado Rocky Mountains, has allowed skiers and snowboarders to ski free for its opening day regardless of age, height, weight, etc. This year, the resort known for its harrowing steeps has opted for a different promotion that will be more beneficial to the local community.
For 2016-17, CBMR will open the mountain for skiing on Wednesday, November 23, a day prior to its official opening day, and collect $15 donations from eager skiers and snowboarders with all proceeds going to benefit the Crested Butte Snowsports Foundation (CBSF). CBSF is a local organization with the goal of “supporting the youth in the Gunnison Valley in their pursuits of sportsmanship, passion and discipline through snow sport experiences.”
“After offering [free skiing] for a number of years, we thought we should make a greater impact to our community by charging everyone a nominal fee to ski and ride on this day and then give back to a great local organization that is in line with our company values by getting more kids in our valley on the slopes and out on the Nordic trails,” explains CBMR president Ethan Mueller.
Season passes will be invalid on “Donation Day,” and will be accepted beginning on the official opening day of November 24.
