Copper Mountain 2023 Summer Press Kit

COPPER BY THE NUMBERS

Copper Mountain is conveniently located off of 1-70 at Exit 195. The resort is 100 miles (2-hour drive) from Denver International Airport and 55 miles (1 hour drive) from Eagle County Regional Airport.

14 HOLES

5,800 FEET

22 MILES

10 OBSTICLES

MPH

A SUMMER OF UPGRADES

Copper Mountain has announced summer work on several new upgrades that are set to debut for the 2023-24 season. Combined, these upgrades make for the largest single-year resort investment in more than a decade.

THE AERIE

Find rejuvenation at the new Aerie Lodge. Expected to open in the fall of 2023, the Aerie will enhance the on-mountain dining and après experience at Copper. Located at the top of the American Eagle chairlift, the Aerie is a 25,000-square-foot, two-story building that will offer a full-service on-mountain restaurant known as “Forage and Feast” and will also include a bar and lounge, a private dining area for events, cafeteria, and most importantly, expansive 270-degree views of the Gore and Ten Mile Ranges.

SNOWMAKING/TRAIL IMPROVEMENTS

High quality, early season snow is a must have for the mountain. Copper will be making upgrades and replacements to the resort’s existing snowmaking infrastructure and will prioritize improvements on the west side of the mountain for beginners and in the Central Park terrain park for committed freestyle athletes. Five new snowcats will be added to the resort’s fleet for enhanced grooming, and a number of trails within the Western Territory will be widened or gladed for the benefit of skiers and riders.

SUMMER RECREATION

Copper Mountain continues to expand summer recreation opportunities with updates to bike trails, hiking trails, and the Copper Creek Golf Course. The resort has a multi-year plan approved to add an additional 22-miles of bike trails. The trails will appeal to all ability levels at the Athlete’s Mountain and will create more variety throughout Copper’s trail network. Construction this summer will connect the American Eagle and Woodward Express lifts for riders and will continue to extend the Gopher-It trail. A new hiking trail will be added above the top of the American Eagle lift and the new Aerie lodge, creating a full loop for guests to enjoy on the upper mountain. Lastly, the Copper Creek Golf Course will expand its 9-hole course to 14 this summer. The course will return to a full 18 holes during the 2024 season after renovations are completed.

EMPLOYEE CHILDCARE FACILITY

A new childcare facility is set to open for the 2023-24 winter season for community members and employees to utilize. The facility will serve a critical need in the community, providing more than 45 childcare spots for those who live and work within Copper Mountain Resort. The facility will offer designated areas for infants, toddlers, and pre-school aged children. In addition to an 1,800 sq ft outdoor area, the center will include a full-service kitchen offering breakfast and lunch for children, washer and dryer, a state-of-the-art security system and check-in station.

TRANSPORTATION

To allow for smoother traffic flow in and out of the resort, Copper is expanding its Far East lot. The resort will also introduce two new COBUS’s, increasing the frequency and the quality of transportation between free parking lots. Additionally, 30 new EV charging stations will be installed in the Alpine lot and Tesla superchargers will be installed at the Conoco service station to support the resort’s Play Forever initiatives.

PLAY FOREVER

PLAY FOREVER INITIATIVES

Soil Sequestration Study and Ski Conservation Summit– Last summer, Copper Mountain’s Play Forever team launched a 10-year carbon sequestration study to observe the health of the mountain soil. Working alongside students from Southwestern University, the team studied the resort’s slopes to understand how Copper is positively influencing the soil’s ability to store carbon. Students will return this July to continue the study and together, with Copper, will evaluate restoration strategies that can be used on the mountain to improve carbon storage. Alongside the study, Copper will host its annual Ski Conservation Summit, inviting local community organizations and ski industry partners to discuss their own sustainability efforts in a collaborative environment. The Conservation Summit will focus discussion on land, water, and ecosystem conservation.

Play Forever Summer Giving Program – In the spirit of giving back to the local community, Copper Mountain is continuing its successful Play Forever giving program for a third summer in a row. In July, August and September, Copper will donate a portion of proceeds generated from summer activity pass sales to three non-profit organizations that prioritize one of three things: local relief, on-mountain inclusivity or protecting the environment. Since 2020, Copper has donated $477,520 to local nonprofits through lift ticket giving programs including $150,000 that was raised during the winter of 2022-23. This summer’s recipient non-profits include High Country Conservation Center, Summit County Rescue Group, and the Family & Intercultural Resource Center.

PepsiCo CIRQU Powered by Replenysh – In the winter of 2022-23, Copper launched an exciting new recycling initiative, PepsiCo’s CIRQU Powered by Replenysh. CIRQU allows Copper to circulate aluminum and plastic through closed loop recycling and allows Pepsi to integrate the material back into their supply chain. The program is helping to eliminate downcycling. Bins for the program have been rolled out in lift lines and dining outlets, primarily in the resort’s Center Village. Copper has plans to integrate CIRQU resort wide in the coming seasons.

Hero of Sustainability –

Jeff Grasser, Copper’s Senior Resort Operations and Sustainability Manager, has been named this year’s Hero of Sustainability at the 2023 NSAA Golden Eagle Awards. Jeff is the life blood of Copper’s Play Forever commitment and has spearheaded the resort’s sustainability initiatives over the past several years. In 2019, Jeff implemented a native seed collection program to help resort vegetation on the mountain. He has also enacted a 10-year carbon sequestration study to analyze the health of Copper’s slopes, and has been leading the charge on CIRQU, the closed loop recycling program. Big congrats to Copper’s sustainability superstar!

PUSHING ATHLETIC PURSUITS TO A NEW LEVEL

Copper hosts progression camps for alpine athletes

ALPINE RACE TRAINING

As part of Copper’s commitment to providing year-round training opportunities for athletes of all ages and ability levels, the resort welcomes alpine ski racers to the slopes for spring training in May and June. Copper’s north facing slope and high elevation provide for excellent snow preservation during the late spring months. Before the heat of summer moves in, athletes from the Stifel U.S. Alpine Ski Team, including Mikaela Shiffrin, take to the hill for late season training. Young athletes from local and national club teams will also visit Copper to train alongside the best in the business, logging crucial late season hours on the hill, providing extra development and repetition opportunities on Giant Slalom and Slalom courses.

THE MOUNTAIN G.O.A.T COMES TO COPPER

Mikaela Shiffrin has proven herself to be the most successful alpine skier in history after collecting her 88th World Cup victory this season, dethroning legendary Swedish skier Ingemar Stenmark for the most overall World Cup wins. The Greatest of All Time is no stranger to dawn training laps at Copper, visiting the slopes in both the spring and fall for early season preparation ahead of her marathon circuit of competitive pursuits throughout the winter season.

ADVENTURE ON THE SUMMER SLOPES

Conquer the mountain this summer at Copper. From mountain biking, to hiking and chairlift rides, there’s no better opportunity to broaden the need for mountain adventure.

With an expanded network of mountain bike trails, Copper’s downhill routes offer a space for growth on comfortable terrain. New additions to the trail system have added features like rock gardens, jumps and berms for downhill progression. This summer, Copper will complete two continuous gravity flow trails on the mountain. Mountain bike trails can be accessed by biking up A-road or riding the Woodward Express lift and utilizing the lift’s bike haul trays. Purchase a bike haul daily upgrade pass or season pass for unlimited access to Copper’s bike trails at CopperColorado.com.

Woodward Express lift is also open to scenic chairlift rides, inviting guests to take in the scenic landscape or access high-altitude hiking trails.

PRIVATE MOUNTAIN BIKE LESSON BIKE RENTALS

Guests can personalize their mountain biking experience with a private lesson. Bikers of any ability level age 10 and up are encouraged to participate in a half-day lesson available for $159 or a full-day lesson for $299. Private lessons are the best way to work on skill growth and building confidence on downhill terrain. Learn more at CopperColorado.com.

Bike rentals are available in West Village. Guests can rent a cruiser to enjoy on the Summit recreation path system or test out Copper’s network of bike trails on a downhill or all mountain bike. Or ease up on the pedaling and rent an e-bike for the mountain or for the bike path and experience the high alpine terrain without breaking a sweat. Kids bikes are also available to rent.

A BACKPACKER’S CROSSING

COLORADO TRAIL CONTINENTAL DIVIDE TRAIL

The most spectacular way to see the Colorado Rocky Mountains is the Colorado Trail. Passing right through the heart of Copper Mountain, the 485-mile route departs Denver and scales the majestic peaks of Colorado’s high-country on the way to Durango. After cresting the Ten Mile Range, backpackers, day-hikers and mountain bikers can catch section 8 of the trail at Copper right from Center Village and follow the trail 25.3 miles over Tennessee pass toward Leadville.

A ribbon that winds its way south to north through the United States, the Continental Divide Trail (CDT) passes through Copper Mountain. The 3,100mile trail stretches between the borders of Mexico and Canada. Annually, only a few hundred brave, long-distance hikers will embark on the end-to-end trek encountering deserts, rocky peaks and forested mountains as they cross through five states. In Colorado, CDT hikers will link with the Colorado trail and travel directly through Copper Mountain Resort on their five-month journey.

NOTE: PARTS OF THE COLORADO AND CONTINENTAL DIVIDE TRAIL WILL BE RENOVATED THIS SUMMER AS A PART OF THE FAR EAST PARKING LOT EXPANSION.

PLAY IN THE VILLAGE

With the perfect mountain backdrop, Copper’s villages offer a variety of activities. Families will burn daylight, climbing, jumping and riding their way through the village. Copper’s summer activities include the Rocky Mountain Coaster, Wrecktangle, climbing wall, bungee jump, zipline, go karts and bumper boats. Guests can make the most of their time at Copper with an Activity Day Pass, available to purchase for $79. Families will save by purchasing a Family Day Pass for $249, offering access to all village activities for a family of four. Learn about summer activity passes at CopperColorado.com.

PLAY THE COURSE

Nestled against the base of the resort offering spectacular views of the Ten Mile Range, the Copper Creek Golf Course is a mountain paradise for golfers. Golfers can stop in for a round for as low as $39 this summer. For those that frequent the links, golf season passes are available for purchase as well as a 9-hole, 8-pack for those that like flexibility on the fairways. Ladies’ clinics and private lessons with the course pro offer guests the chance to improve their golf game from the tee to the hole. The highest course in the Rockies is the best place to be this summer. Due to construction, only 14 holes of golf will be available for summer 2023.

IMPROVED PLAYING STYLE

Success on the links comes with practice. Copper Creek Golf Course offers clinics, playing and private lessons all summer long. Ladies Clinics will be held every Tuesday evening, targeting a different skill focus each week. Saturday short game clinics will cover putting, chipping, pitching and bunker play to dial in closeout play on the hole. Those looking for a more personalized experience can book a private or playing lesson with the Course Pro, Zach Dobrota. Learn more about Copper’s golf clinics and lessons at CopperColorado.com.

SMASHFEST GOLF TOURNAMENT

PRESENTED BY 10 BARREL | AUGUST 19

10 Barrel wants to be your caddy for a day on the links. Join us for the 5th annual SmashFest Golf Tournament, presented by 10 Barrel Brewing at Copper Creek Golf Course. Tournament registration includes one 9-hole round with cart, plenty of refreshing beer and plenty of swag. Learn more at CopperColorado.com.

THE ULTIMATE SUMMER DESTINATION

Three villages and endless opportunities for adventure make Copper the perfect summer destination. Whether it’s a weekend getaway, a day trip to the mountains or a mile marker on a much longer exploration, Copper has all the amenities to fuel a summer of adventure. Drop by Center Village for a bite to eat and a brew after logging some laps on the bike or miles on the trail. Plan for the big events at Copper by booking a room for as low as $116 per night right in the heart of the resort. With mountain activities, dining, shopping and lodging available, Copper offers the ultimate convenience for a family vacation.

SUMMER PROGRAMMING

SPECIAL PROGRAMMING

COPPER LIVE

July 8 | Aug. 12 Copper Country | Aug. 19 | Sept. 2 | Sept. 3 | Sept. 23

The Copper Live concert series is back for another summer season, offering free live music performances in Copper’s Center Village. Check out this summer’s lineup of Copper Live performances at CopperColorado.com.

10 BARREL BACKCOUNTRY BREW PUB

June 24 | July 1 | July 26 | Aug. 14 | Sept. 4

The Backcountry Brew Pub is the most exciting party in the mountains. Hike, bike or ride the Woodward Express lift to the on-mountain pop-up party. Reward your efforts with a free drink, food, music and lawn games or kick back and take in the surrounding views.

10 BARREL ALES & ASTRONOMY

July 22| Aug. 25

Spend an evening under the stars on the mountain learning about the night sky from a local astronomer, all while sipping on cold brews from 10 Barrel.

YETI MOUNTAIN MIXOLOGY

July 9 | July 30 | Aug. 27 | Sept. 3

Head up on the hill to Koko’s Hut for a mountain mixology experience, complete with freshly foraged ingredients and scenic views of the surrounding peaks.

YETI MOUNTAINSIDE MOVIES

Sept. 24

Sit mountainside and take in a free film under the night sky after an adrenalinefilled day exploring Copper. Bring your own chair or blanket to Jack’s Lawn in Center Village and settle in for an evening of entertainment alfresco.

WEEKLY PROGRAMS

10 BARREL BREWS AND TUNES

Every Friday at 4:30 p.m.

Grab takeout from your favorite Copper restaurant and pull up your lawn chair to West Lake in Center Village for a front-row performance from the best musicians that Summit County has to offer.

ACOUSTIC GLOW

Every Saturday at 7 p.m.

Sing along under the stars at the Fire Globe in Center Village with one of Colorado’s finest campfire guitarists, Randall McKinnon.

YOGA AT COPPER

Subaru Mountain Yoga – Every Saturday at 9 a.m. - Subi Shack in Center Village

Center Pose Yoga presented by Subaru – Every Sunday at 9 a.m. - Subi Shack in Center Village

Energize yourself for the weekend with an outdoor yoga class in the heart of Center Village. First time attendees will receive a free Jade Yoga mat (while supplies last).

HIKE WITH A RANGER

Every Sunday at 11 a.m.

Explore Copper’s natural environment on a guided hike while learning about the mountain’s ecosystem from volunteers at the Friends of the Dillon Ranger District.

HIKE WITH A RANGER

SUMMER EVENTS

JUNE 11-12

COLORADO BBQ CHALLENGE

After 27 years in Frisco, the Colorado BBQ Challenge is headed west along I-70 this summer to Copper Mountain. This year's 28th annual Colorado BBQ Challenge will feature two days of BBQ competition with vendors serving up a tasty array of food and drink to the public. The event remains free to attend, with food and beverage tickets ("hogbacks") available for purchase.

In true Copper fashion, the BBQ challenge will not be the only competition taking place on Father's Day weekend. Guests can participate in a Ribs & Jibs rail jam held on snow in Center Village, run the 5K Bacon Burner and/or participate in a Father’s Day Golf Scramble at the Copper Creek Golf Course. Check out everything happening during the weekend at CopperColorado.com.

JULY 2-3

RED, WHITE, BREWS & TUNES PRESENTED BY 10 BARREL

Celebrate the 4th of July at Copper Mountain! Soak in the summer sun, marvel at scenic sights of the 10 Mile Range and groove to free live music performances from bands on July 2 and 3. As part of the weekend festivities, enjoy programs like group bike rides, outdoor yoga sessions and more.

JULY 8

PEPSI MOUNTAIN CLEANUP

Copper Mountain will be partnering with Pepsi to host a community clean-up day on the mountain. Pick up trash and recyclable items off the slopes and even look for treasures. A free community lunch will be offered to those that join. There will also be free live music playing in Eagle’s Landing

JULY 15-16

COURAGE CLASSIC

Courage Classic is back for its 33rd year, inviting bikers of all ages to help raise money for the Colorado Children’s Hospital through a two-day challenge. Choose a route, ranging in length from 10 miles to 80 miles, and pedal to change lives every mile you ride.

BBQ RIBS & JIBS RAIL JAM

GOLF SCRAMBLE

JULY 29

WRECKTANGLE CHALLENGE

Competitors can challenge their inner ninja at the Wrecktangle Challenge. Tackle the legendary course by swinging and climbing through 10 different obstacles, chasing the title of WreckTangle champion. Kids and adults ages 5 and up are invited to participate and compete for prizes.

AUGUST 4-5

COPPER TRIANGLE

Copper Triangle, Colorado’s classic alpine cycling event is back for another year at Copper. Racers will take on the challenging 79-mile loop climbing three mountain passes reaching elevations of over 10,000 feet. Proceeds from the ride will benefit the Davis Phinney Foundation. Enjoy a post-ride lunch, beer garden, live music and more on race day.

AUGUST 12

COPPER COUNTRY

Head to Copper for a fun-filled afternoon of foot-stompin’ free concerts as country music returns to the Athlete’s Mountain. Singer-songwriter Cam will be performing in Eagle’s Landing in Center Village.

AUGUST 19

SMASHFEST

GOLF TOURNAMENT

PRESENTED BY 10 BARREL

The 5th Annual SmashFest Golf Tournament is back at the Copper Creek Golf Course. Grab a team and prepare for a great day of golf and 10 Barrel brews. Participants can take home prizes, swag, and more during the tournament.

SEPTEMBER 2-4

LABOR DAY WEEKEND

Enjoy the holiday weekend in the High Country soaking up the last days of summer. The weekend will include a free Copper Live music performance on Sept. 2 and 3, and cheers to summer adventures on Sept. 4 at the 10 Barrel Backcountry Brew Pub party on the mountain and later at YETI Mountain Mixology.

SEPTEMBER 8-10

Learn more about the festival on the next page.

UNION PEAK FESTIVAL

UNION PEAK FESTIVAL WRECKTANGLE CHALLENGE COPPER TRIANGLE

THE PARTY RETURNS SEPT. 8-10

The largest gathering of the summer is back for a third year in a row at Copper Mountain. On Sept. 8-10, Union Peak Festival returns, celebrating the convergence of sport, community and art with three days of free live music performances, interactive art installations and booths, sports demonstrations and community gatherings.

INNER ATHLETES BE CHALLENGED

The Athlete’s Mountain will celebrate a weekend of elevated pursuits with interactive demos and active meetups. All are encouraged to participate in weekend activities including golf clinics, group mountain bike rides, fly fishing casting clinics, sunrise yoga and more. The Summit Up Trail Run will also encourage runners to test their endurance on a jog around the mountain.

ROCK OUT WITH FREE MUSIC PERFORMANCES

Union Peak Festival wouldn’t be complete without a heavy hitting lineup of free music and this year is no different. Enjoy free live shows from Spoon, Fitz & the Tantrums and Quinn XCII. Festival goers can upgrade their experience with a Full Weekend VIP Pass for as low as $300 if booked with two nights of lodging during the festival weekend. VIP passes will offer the best access to concerts, swag, food and drinks, after parties and more throughout the weekend. More information will be announced later this summer.

PEAK THE PEAKS ON THE SUMMIT UP 5K/9K TRAIL RUN

A weekend of athletic endeavors wouldn’t be complete without the Summit Up 5K/9K run. Trail runners are invited to challenge their high-altitude lung capacity with a running race on the mountain that will test even the most seasoned sprinter. The course will surpass an elevation of 11,000 ft and climb into the high-alpine on the mountain. Run hard to play harder at the on-mountain Beer tasting event at the end of the race.

Learn more about Union Peak Festival at CopperColorado.com.

ON-SNOW SUMMER CAMP

A SUMMER CAMP IN THE ROCKIES UNLIKE ANY OTHER

Woodward Copper on-snow summer camp offers 10 weeks of on-snow skiing and snowboard camps at the resort’s summer terrain park. Beginning in June, kids ages 7-17 can participate in weeklong sessions, focusing on progression, skillbuilding and fun on four acres of snow. The summer terrain park is the only one of its kind in Colorado with jumps, rails and jibs serviced by a surface lift on the mountain. Kids will ski and ride alongside professionals, Red Gerard, Hunter Hess, Anna Gasser and more, who are there to enhance the learning experience. New this season, campers can choose between two different camp experiences prioritizing their camp session to focus on skier and rider development or all-mountain adventure. New this year, adults are invited to check out the mountain terrain park for a weeklong summer session.

ADULT SUMMER CAMP PEAK PERFORMANCE ALL-MOUNTAIN ADVENTURE

For the first time, Woodward Summer Camp is open for adults to participate in a weeklong session at the end of May. Anyone 18 or older is invited to up their terrain park game, with access to the summer terrain park for 5-hours and the Woodward Copper Barn for 2-hours each day. Camp will boost any skiers experience as they log terrain park laps ahead of next winter.

Woodward’s Peak Performance summer camp experience is for the die-hard athlete that wants to prioritize training time on the snow at the summer terrain park and the Woodward Barn. Skiers and riders will focus on sharpening their skills both on and off the mountain utilizing Woodward’s development tools including trampolines, ParkSkis and ParkBoards at the Barn and progressive style jumps on the hill. Campers will also participate in summer and recreational activities as part of the camp experience including village activities and camp games.

Campers who opt into the All-Mountain Adventure camp experience will immerse themselves in a Colorado summer, enjoying everything Copper has to offer during the warmer months. Participants will spend mornings shredding on the summer terrain park and in the afternoon, will head to Copper’s Center Village to play, checking out the Woodward Copper Barn, Rocky Mountain Coaster, Wrecktangle, bumper boats, zipline and more. The All-Mountain Adventure camp is best suited for the camper that wants to grow their talent in the terrain park while also exploring everything summertime in the Rockies has to offer.

WOODWARD COPPER BARN

The Woodward Copper Barn is a 19,400 square foot indoor action sports playground with six Olympic fly-bed trampolines, 16’ by 16’ Super Trampoline, foam pits, pump track, multiple skate areas and a spring floor. The Barn also has ParkBoards™ and ParkSkis™, which are wheeled skis and snowboards that allow riders to practice jumps into a foam pit. The Barn is open to the public on weekends this summer for 2-hour Intro and Drop-In Sessions!

SUMMER SNOW

SUMMER HIKE PARK

Copper continues to extend snow season into the heart of summer. With an abundance of snowfall and a cooler than average spring, snow is sticking around in Center Village. For the first time since 2018, Copper Mountain is offering a public Hike Park for skiers and riders. With nearly a dozen rail features, guests can lap the park from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays until the snow fades. Shred the park for $25 per person per day while the pile remains!

COLORADO SKI COUNTRY USA

SNOWMAKER OF THE YEAR

GABE HODGE

In June, Copper’s own Gabe Hodge was named the 2023 Snowmaker of the Year at the Colorado Ski Country USA Double Diamond Awards. Gabe joined the snowmaking team at Copper Mountain during the pandemic and has since embraced every challenge that comes his way. Working the weekend day shift has allowed him to work closely with Colorado Mountain College students, which he finds rewarding. Gabe loves teaching and sharing his knowledge, helping students develop their skills and encouraging their own love for snowmaking. His dedication and enthusiasm have made him a valued member of the Copper Mountain team and a deserving recipient of the CSCUSA Snowmaker of the Year Award.

SNOWMAKING AT COPPER BEGAN ON OCTOBER 4TH FOR THE 22/23 WINTER SEASON.