No Telemark Extremes this year; low snow cancels events

CBMR early season pass sale is on; FestEVOL, too

The warm weather and bluebird skies have taken their toll again. On Tuesday, March 13, Crested Butte Mountain Resort made the call to cancel this year’s Telemark Extremes due to snow conditions.

“Although the extreme terrain is great for our guests it’s not up to the caliber of the event and the athletes in terms of what they expect for venue and snowpack,” said Erica Reiter, CBMR’s public relations and communications manager.
It’s unfortunate, Reiter said, but it’s the reality the resort is facing with warm weather and no new snow in the last week. For now, however, the resort still hopes to host the Junior Freeskiing Tour at the end of the month.
“Our recommendation is to go out there and have fun skiing, and we’ll compete again next year,” Reiter said.
The disappointing news comes just as CBMR opened pass sales for the 2012-2013 ski season. Pass prices will be going up next season, but during the early season sale—good through April 8—the resort is offering passes at last year’s early season rates. That means skiers who wait until October to buy their passes will pay $100 more than last year for an adult Platinum pass, and $50 more for an adult Gold pass. But at early season rates, it’s $999 for the adult Platinum pass and $899 for the adult Gold pass, just like last year.
The passes will still come with a few extras: All adult Platinum passholders will continue to have summer lift access and unlimited access to the Adventure Park during the winter and 2013 summer months. They’ll also receive a free winter zipline tour (new this year), and four buddy passes at $52 each. Gold passholders will receive two buddy tickets.
There are also a few changes to the pass line-up this year, including a new financing option and new age restrictions for the family package. The 2012-2013 family package will now include one children’s pass for ages 12 and under. In the past, it included children ages 17 and under, but the change comes in an effort to promote the Choice Pass Program for kids ages 13 to 17, which is $99 per student and includes ongoing programming aimed to give kids alcohol- and drug-free activities.
The Choice Pass, which is offered in partnership with the Gunnison County Substance Abuse Prevention Project (GCSAPP) was rolled out during the 2011-2012 ski season as a pilot program with freshmen in Crested Butte and Gunnison.
Given the program’s success, it’s being rolled out to all junior high and high school students in Crested Butte and Gunnison.
“The Choice Pass program has been a great partnership for CBMR. Beyond the great benefit of promoting a healthy lifestyle for our local children it has also allowed us to offer a great price for more families and kids in this valley to get involved in the sports of skiing and riding,” said CBMR’s general manager Ethan Mueller. “We’re excited to be expanding the program with GCSAPP, and hope many families will be able to use the opportunity in guiding their children, as well as getting out for some family fun on the slopes.”
Another change this year aims to give passholders a little more flexibility in how they pay for their adult and senior Platinum and Gold passes. Passholders can opt to pay 50 percent of the total cost plus a $25 processing fee by April 8, and pay the remaining 50 percent on or before August 8 of this year. The financing option does include a $100 nonrefundable deposit, so skiers who cancel their pass before paying the second half will not be refunded the deposit or the processing fee.
For valley skiers who might not opt for a season pass, CBMR is offering a limited-time only three-day pass sale inspired by the Up For More Pass sold in January. The Colorado Three for All is $177 for adults and $159 for young adults. Available for purchase until March 21, the pass is valid between March 23 and the end of this year’s ski season, and can also be used between November 21 and December 20 of next year’s ski season.
The limited-time only passes are a test pilot for CBMR, aimed at reaching local and regional crowds who might not have opted for the season pass this year. According to Reiter, this choice tends to be a better fit with skiers in Gunnison and other regional locations than with Crested Butte skiers.
“It’s more of a regional push to get people to try us out for a few days for the first time or if they have a pass to Monarch or another resort, to get them to think it would be fun to ski for a few days,” said Reiter.
It’s also a way to boost end of season numbers. In CBMR’s community newsletter this week, Mueller said the resort projects it will be 5 percent down overall in March compared to last year. Skier visits for the week of March 18-23 look like they’ll peak at 4,100 daily skier visits, settling back down between 2,600 and 2,900 daily visits at the end of the week.
Ticket sales for FestEVOL, however, are tracking well with its first two years in Crested Butte. Attendance has fluctuated with the bands, depending on whether the event attracts a local audience or visitors.
“The first year was Yonder Mountain String Band, and it was all local people and we sold about 1,500 tickets,” Reiter said. “Last year it was OAR, and we sold fewer tickets but had more lodging guests.”
With The Barenaked Ladies, Guster and Big Head Todd and the Monsters, Reiter says they’re anticipating more of a mix. A week before the event, the resort had already sold more than 800 tickets. Locals can still get a discount on tickets by bringing proof of residency to Adventure Services by Friday, March 16 at 8 p.m.—bring up to two Evol Burrito Wrappers for an additional $5 off per wrapper. That brings the local’s weekend price to $20.