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ELDORA from Page 21
from scandalous to storied, unsullied ownership Eldora has overcome has remained elusive. With the need to improve many obstacles over the aging infrastructure, plans to expand terrain in the years and continues to push forward. works, and public demand for new activities and continued excellence in skiing instruction, the Powdr acquisition is promising for both operators and users. “Eldora certainly needed capital to make some improvements,” says JP Chevalier, Eldora’s director of marketing. “Former ownership would spend maybe $500,000 to $600,000 a year on fixing things and making little improvements, but in an industry where a new snowcat costs that much, it’s hard to find money for everything you need.” Powdr, which also lists Copper Mountain, Mt. Bachelor and Killington on its roster of American ski resorts, gave Eldora a healthy infusion of cash after the acquisition last summer, and Chevalier says the effects were felt immediately. “People feel it from the restrooms to the domestic water supply. We cut three new trails, and we’ve invested in Woodward, which is our new kid’s ski and snowboard school model.” To be clear: The restrooms have all been remodeled slightly (the ones under the Timbers Lodge got the biggest makeover); pipes that were installed in the ’60s have been replaced, so the water tastes better; the resort cut three new black diamond runs between the Corona chairlift and Muleshoe run; and, Eldora is now the only ski school in the country that is using Woodward (a progressive — and proprietary — way to teach coordination and athleticism both indoors and on snow) as its primary method of instruction. Beyond the tangible changes users will find at Eldora this season, the resort’s management is equally invested in preserving the unique identity of the ski area — 22 January 12, 2017
Boulder Weekly