{"id":2802,"date":"2025-12-03T13:31:22","date_gmt":"2025-12-03T13:31:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/hamanship.com\/index.php\/2025\/12\/03\/telluride-plans-to-open-this-weekend-even-as-contentious-ski-patrollers-union-talks-continue\/"},"modified":"2025-12-03T13:31:22","modified_gmt":"2025-12-03T13:31:22","slug":"telluride-plans-to-open-this-weekend-even-as-contentious-ski-patrollers-union-talks-continue","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/hamanship.com\/index.php\/2025\/12\/03\/telluride-plans-to-open-this-weekend-even-as-contentious-ski-patrollers-union-talks-continue\/","title":{"rendered":"Telluride plans to open this weekend even as contentious ski patrollers union talks continue"},"content":{"rendered":"

Telluride Ski Resort is scheduled to open this Saturday — a week later than originally planned<\/a> — after winter storms dropped much-needed snow on the mountains in southwestern Colorado.<\/p>\n

The resort announced Monday it would open one lift with access to limited terrain and continue snow making operations, as temperatures permit, \u201cwith the goal of opening additional terrain as quickly and safely as possible.\u201d<\/p>\n

Related: Chuck Horning\u2019s leadership of Telluride Ski & Golf has led to a deteriorating relationship with the community<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

The weather, however, wasn\u2019t the only reason locals recently speculated that the ski season might further be delayed.<\/p>\n

Since June, the resort\u2019s ownership has been negotiating a new contract with its ski patrollers union, the Telluride Professional Ski Patrol Association. In recent weeks, those negotiations have turned contentious with the union voting to authorize a strike and subsequently staging a practice picket<\/a> in downtown Telluride.<\/p>\n

The main sticking point throughout bargaining has been compensation, union president Graham Hoffman told The Denver Post. Ski patrollers perform a variety of functions on the mountain, from assisting skiers who need medical help to avalanche mitigation and maintenance and more. So far this winter, they have been preparing the resort to host guests by assessing the safety of the conditions and packing snow across the mountain.<\/p>\n

Given the technical skills required for the job, the union is seeking to secure at least $30 an hour base pay for its 70-plus members. Hoffman said there are currently ways for patrollers to do additional training and move up the pay scale to earn more per hour, but that most still don\u2019t reach the union\u2019s desired threshold.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re trying to get everyone closer to $30 and over $30, and lay out a roadmap that will help with the retention of this patrol,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Telluride Ski Resort defended its current wage offer in a statement sent to The Denver Post and accused the patrollers’ union of bargaining in bad faith. Both parties have repeatedly cited what they believe is considered a living wage in their area \u2013 one of Colorado\u2019s most expensive places to live<\/a> \u2013 with a disparity of about $10 per hour. <\/p>\n