Despite Breckenridge Ski Resort’s Sunday, April 19, closing day, the resort has announced that it will reopen Peak 8 for one day on Saturday, April 25, for the Peaks and Beats event. The one-day reopening will include skiing and riding off the Colorado Chair with access to Middle 4 O’Clock to Freeway and Park Lane, a small terrain park on Freeway, a free lunch for the first 500 Epic pass holders, free music all day and the Gold Runner coaster running. Jorts, bikini tops and tropical looks are encouraged.

Live music will include Sunny Side Up from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., Gravagerz from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Nimino from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. The vendor village will be open from 1-6 p.m.

Free parking will be available in the North and South Gondola lots and the BreckConnect Gondola will spin from 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. for transfers between town and Peak 8.

The last Summit County ski resort to announce its closing day, Arapahoe Basin Ski Area, will end its season Sunday, May 3, according to a news release.

The resort’s season will have lasted 194 days, which the release stated is the longest this season in Colorado, “even in a historically low snowpack year.” A-Basin was the second resort to open in Summit County this season after Keystone Resort announced its opening day-of to get ahead of A-Basin.

To celebrate its closing, A-Basin will offer $39 lift tickets starting Monday, April 27. It will also have beer specials at 6th Alley all weekend and live music May 2-3 with Moonstone Quill and Don Fuego playing Saturday and Sunday, respectively, from noon to 3 p.m.

The resort normally has several themed skiing days in May, including a swimwear day, a denim day and a Star Wars day on May 4. With the slopes closing earlier than normal, the release stated riders are invited to join “one giant party” on closing day.

A-Basin will tie Copper Mountain Resort for the latest closing in Summit County this year, as Copper, originally slated to close April 26, announced last week it has extended its season through May 3.

Loveland Ski Area will close for the 2025-26 season on Sunday, April 26, according to a news release.

Closing weekend will be full of celebrations, including the 25th Annual Corn Harvest Benefit Ski Party on Saturday, April 25. The party will be all day, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and will include a barbecue lunch, refreshments, a raffle and live music.

Guests are encouraged to preregister in advance at SkiLoveland.com.

Mark Morris and the Rope Duckers will play at the base area from 2-5:30 p.m. both days. On-Mountain music will be at Ptarmigan Roost Cabin from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 pm. both days.

Loveland is still offering more than 500 acres of terrain, including 41 open trails and four lifts.

The New Worlds halfpipe competition was held at Breckenridge Ski Resort on Saturday, April 18. The new competition, intended as an ode to snowboarding’s pioneer years, celebrated the 40th anniversary of one of the most pivotal moments in snowboarding history: the 1986 World Snowboard Classic.

On the same day Copper Mountain Resort announced it will stay open into May, Breckenridge Ski Resort announced it will close this Sunday, April 19.

A Facebook post from Breckenridge stated the resort is “melting down,” but it plans to close with a bang and a few inches of late-season snow in the forecast this weekend. The resort will host its New Worlds halfpipe competition April 18-19 and will have free parking for everyone starting April 18.

On April 25, Breckenridge will have its Peaks and Beats party. While the slopes will be closed, the event will feature a free concert, a barbecue for passholders and more.

Editor’s note: This story has been updated to correct that Copper Mountain will have $49 lift tickets for the final week of the season.

Copper Mountain Resort announced Thursday, April 16, that it has moved its closing day from April 26 to May 3.

A news release from the resort stated this is the fourth-straight season Copper will have stayed open into May. The resort’s high elevation and north-facing slope helped preserve enough snow to make the extension possible, despite the lack of snow this season, according to the release. It also stated that the areas that will remain open have a strong base thanks to early-season snowmaking.

Late-season storms and cooler forecast weather in coming weeks also factored into the decision, the release stated.

Copper will have a Party Laps event May 1 to celebrate the extension. Anyone with lift access can join the after-hours event for laps on the American Eagle and Excelerator chairlifts from 4-7 p.m. Aerie food hall will have food and drinks as well as a DJ at the top of American Eagle.

The resort will have $49 lift tickets for the final week of the season, according to the release. Interior parking lots, excluding the Ten Mile and Flyer lots, will be free starting April 27, but there will be no shuttle services.

The Skimmy Dippers Pond Skim will still take place Sunday, April 26, which had been the scheduled closing date.

Ski areas in Summit County are reporting more than 6 inches of snow following a storm that never received a winter weather advisory or warning.

Loveland Ski Area has received 7 inches while Breckenridge Ski Resort is reporting 7 inches on its snowstake as of 4 p.m. Tuesday. Copper Mountain’s snowstake showed around 6 inches, and Arapahoe Basin Ski Area’s snowstake camera was not functioning properly.

Snow is expected to continue falling through the night. Another storm will bring more snow and rain, depending on the temperature, beginning Thursday night, according to the National Weather Service.

Loveland, Breckenridge, Copper and A-Basin are all still operating in the Summit County area, while Keystone and many other ski areas across Colorado have already closed.

Mikaela Shiffrin might be a professional skier now, but if she’d opened a LinkedIn account as a 9-year-old, her profile would have said something different.

“I wanted to be a rainbow horse,” the six-time overall World Cup champion admitted when asked what she originally wanted to be when she grew up.

Shiffrin hung out with about 40 young girls as part of “The GOAT Gives Back” event on Saturday at Copper Mountain. The invite-only private ski day kicked off a $1 million fundraising initiative to support youth ski and snowboard programs across the U.S. alongside ShareWinter, an organization the Edwards skier partnered with and helped to raise nearly $500,000 for in 2025.

“It’s been really cool to see how raising money for ShareWinter helps impact kids like you to get outside and get into snow sports,” Shiffrin said shortly after walking into a packed conference room in Center Village around 9:30 a.m. Most of the 10-14 year-olds — who absorbed with adoration all of the superstar’s words while holding tilted heads and reverent stares — were members of elevateHER. The Chaffee County-based organization, established in 2017, seeks to “foster self-worth and grit in young women through mentoring, outdoor adventure and holistic wellness programs.”

“It depends on the season, but in the fall we mountain bike and rock climb. In the summer we raft (and) in the winter we go skiing,” said Frankie, a 14-year-old from Salida who is in the leadHERship program that meets monthly during the school year and weekly over the summer. Her friend, Lucia Downing, said the group is a welcoming space where you get to “meet people who share your interests.” Anabelle Soltz, a Salida Montessori Charter School student, echoed the sentiment.

“I really like the community because everyone is so supporting,” Soltz stated. “You never feel like you’re not good enough at all when you’re in this group.”

ShareWinter “partners with youth programs nationwide to remove barriers to skiing and riding, funding access to lessons, gear, lift tickets and transportation so kids can experience their first turns, build confidence and find belonging on snow.” CEO Constance Beverley said it takes about $500 to support one child for a full season on snow. 

“Because it’s a little bit of a ladies shred fest here, we thought it would be very fun to get to ski with, I don’t know, the best Alpine skier of all-time!” Beverley said as the excited group of youngsters waited for Shiffrin to arrive. Amalia McNeirney, a 13-year-old Team Monarch skier, said she was most looking forward to getting to know the legendary athlete as a person.

“It’s just awesome that she could get to come out and do this with us. Some Olympic athletes, they don’t really do that, and it’s really cool to see that she’s doing this for us,” McNeirney said. While many of the attendees were not ski racers, McNeirney and her friend, Rose Lenth, were. Both said watching Shiffrin claim Olympic gold in the slalom last February was one of the most inspirational moments of the winter.

“I feel like she knew she’d done so well. You could tell she was proud of herself,” said Lenth, whose own “confidence definitely grew” after winning her final slalom race of the season.

“I like skiing more than any other sport,” Lenth continued. “So, it’s very cool to meet someone who is that good at my favorite sport.”

Before heading out to the hill for a group ski, kids peppered Shiffrin with questions ranging from what she thinks about in the start gate to how she started in the sport in the first place. Shiffrin shared her mantras and answered each inquiry with her trademark transparency and depth. She chronicled her ski story, which started in the driveway at 2 years old.

“I don’t really remember this, but my mom or dad would be at the top and the other would be at the bottom and it would be like, ‘OK, catch her!'” she recalled. “I was the youngest child and it was like, ‘my family skis, so I’m going to ski.’ And I wanted to do everything my brother did.”

Even though Shiffrin benefited from an early beginning, she also emphasized the potential inside everyone — no matter what the journey looks like or when it starts.

“If you’re passionate about something, it doesn’t matter when you get into it,” she said, pointing specifically to U.S. Ski Team teammate Luke Winters as an example. “It’s sort of never too late to find a new passion.” 

At one point, Shiffrin relayed a humorous childhood Christmas morning story wherein she did “zoomies” in the basement after not receiving a highly-desired gift. While pretending to be a bucking bronco, she nearly ran into said gift, which her parents had stored in the basement as a surprise.

“I thought it was really funny,” said Brooke, who sat in the front row and offered a hearty laugh at Shiffrin’s punchline. 

“I’ve always wanted to meet someone famous, and I never thought it would happen,” the youngster from Poncha Springs continued. “And Mikaela’s cool. She’s not like the ‘pick me’ type of famous.”

Before giving her “rainbow horse” answer, Shiffrin turned the tables when asked the proverbial, “what did you want to be when you grew up?” question. Answers poured in from the gallery.

Baker. Nurse. Paleontologist. 

Evelyn, who just moved to Poncha Springs from Ohio last May, said she hopes to be an actress.

“Her saying you can achieve your dream makes me think that whatever you think can be possible,” Evelyn said. “No matter what.”

This story is from VailDaily.com

Loveland Ski Area plans to close for the 2025-26 winter season on Sunday, April 26, pending conditions, according to a news release.

Warming temperatures and typical spring melt impacting conditions across the mountain led to the decision, according to the ski area. It joins other Colorado ski resorts with April closing dates, including Keystone Resort and Vail Mountain. During the 2024-25 season, Loveland Ski Area closed on May 11. According to its website, the ski area typically closes in May, with May 6 as the 10-year average closing day.

With the planned closing date, Loveland will have operated approximately 170 days, providing access to the majority of its terrain throughout the winter.

As of now, Loveland continues to offer over 500 acres of skiable terrain, with quality spring conditions still available, according to the release. Loveland Valley will also reopen for one final weekend, April 10–12, offering additional terrain for guests to enjoy.

The ski area will close out the season with a full lineup of events and live music over the final two weeks. Live music will take place every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday through closing day, alongside signature spring events including the Loveland Derby, Shinobi Showdown and the Corn Harvest Party benefiting the Colorado Avalanche Information Center. For more information, visit SkiLoveland.com.

Arapahoe Basin Ski Area has announced it is ending the requirements for parking reservations early this season, meaning reservations are no longer needed to visit through the end of the season. There will now be no need to reserve online in advance for weekends.

Skiers and riders who have a spot booked beginning the weekend of Saturday, April 4, and beyond will automatically receive a refund. Beach reservations and admin lot parking spaces remain unchanged, as they still require booking and payment, according to the ski area. For those with an existing beach spot or a space reserved in the admin lot, there is no change.