GETAWAY

can drop over 7,000 feet back to town — the largest on-piste vertical drop in the Alps. Day tickets are the lowest price when purchased ahead of time online at matterhornparadise.ch and are less than $100 per day.

On-mountain dining is a highlight in Zermatt. A can’t-miss spot for lunch (and you must make a reservation) is Chez Vrony in the rustic hamlet of Findeln. The Alphitta at Riffelalp is also a notable stop, even just for a pint of beer or spritz on the Matterhorn-facing balcony. Après is a big part of the ski culture in all of Europe, and Zermatt has some extra fun spots, like Hennu Stall, located at the bottom of the Furi-Zermatt valley slope, and it seems once you start dancing here in ski boots you cannot stop.

Wonderful meals are a part of the Zermatt experience, and while fondue, raclette and all the Swiss cheese specialties are readily available (we liked Restaurant Schäferstube for fondue!), a diverse array of international cuisine can be found throughout the village. Located within the high-end resort CERVO, the eastern-inspired restaurant Bazaar offers eclectic flavor with a cozy atmosphere if you want a break from Swiss menus. We also really enjoyed Le Gitan for its warm

ambiance, wine list featuring local Valais varieties, grill-fired meats and mouthwatering pasta dishes.

It’s no secret that people travel from all over the United States and the world to visit our magnificent mountain towns and ski areas here in Colorado, but there is no denying how special a European Alps ski trip truly is. The logistics aren’t bad — just find a flight to Geneva, line yourself up with a Swiss Travel Pass (pricey, but worth it if you’re doing some train travel in Switzerland, including scenic rides around Zermatt), book a hotel and some ski days and get yourself there. Oh yes, and invite some fun friends to join you.

To wake up in a place like Zermatt and take a step outside to watch the morning sun hit the Matterhorn … it’s a dream that you get to be awake for. Be sure to take it all in, because before you know it you’ll be on the train again, looking back for a last glimpse of that magnificent mountain and all those memories in the making. +

“1971 in Vail was a time when almost nothing seemed impossible, and everything was new.” Tara Flanagan sums up the spirit of Vail Public Library’s digital archives, called Vail Valley Voices, through that opening statement, which introduces longtime Vail Valley artist Debbie Bolon-Feeney. The artist’s voice recording is just one of nearly 80 the library currently offers freely to the public, whether you have a library card or not.

Vail Valley Voices aims to digitally archive, through photos and voice recordings, a comprehensive history of the Vail Valley, from its indigenous people to its evolution as a town and renowned resort destination.

“For me, a fun part of these interviews is finding that very unique piece of history that really stands out,” says Tony Mauro, who’s known as “the voice of Vail” and currently conducts the interviews.

He recalls a story from Dr. Jack Eck, one of Vail Health’s pioneers, who talked about going into a mine to help a miner who got stuck and was left behind in the dark cavity with no lights, because all the other “superstitious” miners ran out.

The digitized stories run the gamut, from multiple people talking about the Vail Trail to the Vail Rotary Club and Summervail Art Workshop. They also include controversy over projects like building the first roundabout or how wildlife and the jobs of wildlife officers have changed over the years. Of course, it includes plenty of stories from the early days of Vail Mountain and Vail Village, from Ann and Pepi Langegger surviving World War II and migrating to the U.S., to naming Widge’s Ridge after Alice “Widge” Ferguson, to Pete Seibert Jr.’s adventures on the mountain as a kid and his founding father’s contribution to skiing and role in the 10th Mountain Division.

Funded by Friends of Vail Public Library, Vail Valley Voices is presented by the Vail Public Library as part of the town’s Cultural Heritage Preservation & Programs mission, which strives to preserve, enrich and sustain the cultural and historic legacy of Vail. The program formed in 2019 after Vail applied for certification as a Sustainable Destination by the Global Sustainable Tourism Network in 2017. The town received approval on nearly every criterion but didn’t have a system to protect and honor its cultural heritage, which is one criteria of certification. While the town did get conditionally certified as a Sustainable Destination, the organization wanted to see how Vail was improving on this front. Now, 14 members meet bimonthly to expand Vail’s legacy through initiatives like Vail Valley Voices, Art in Public Places, digitizing the Vail Trail (Vail’s first newspaper) and the Colorado Snowsports Museum. As a result of the preservation work (and all of Vail’s green initiatives), Vail became fully compliant, and certified, as a Sustainable Destination in 2020.

“Capturing history is absolutely priceless,” says Lori Barnes, director of library services at Vail Public Library. “It’s a labor of love. There’s a lot of effort that goes into preserving local history; it’s just so important.”

Though Vail Valley Voices falls under the umbrella of the Cultural Heritage Preservation & Programs, the effort began about eight years ago, when the Marmot Library Network gathered librarians who were interested in digitizing archives. Jo Norris was one of the first to get involved at Vail Public Library. Vail’s first digital archive of Dick and Mary Pownall came online in 2016.

Vail’s archives will eventually be indexed in the Digital Public Library of America, which makes millions of materials from libraries, archives, museums and other cultural organizations available to the public.

The digital archives allow longtime locals and newcomers alike to learn about the Valley’s history and strengthen that special connection we have with the area. In doing so, we can all play a part in preserving the Valley’s legacy, environment and soul.

“Why not know a little about the town you love?” Barnes asks. “There’s so much more than skiing in the way of art and culture. If it wasn’t for that history, we wouldn’t have anything we have now.” +

By Lisa Blake

Want more? Vail Public Library has three digital collections: Vail Valley Voices, Art in Vail and Vintage Vail Quilt. The 1982 quilt hangs in the library’s community room, but you can also see it online and learn about each square and all the artists. Art in Vail features an interactive map, photos and information on the 45 Art in Public Places program.

Above: Walter Gallacher interviewing Klaus Oberbayer, founder of Sport Obermeyer, Ltd.

By Laura Mills

It’s your day off, and Mother Nature has finally delivered a hefty snowstorm. Your crew meets at a new trailhead, surrounded by pillows of powder and trees weighed down with last night's delivery of the good stuff. Everyone’s switching their bindings, putting on their gear and getting ready for the ascent. With the amount of snow that fell last night, you all decide last minute that you’re going to commit to something steep. A few members of the crew have avalanche training, and pretty much everyone is qualified to handle this terrain.

AAfter what feels like hours of touring up a steep ridge, you all switch your gear to downhill as quickly as possible, grins on your faces, ready to eat up fresh powder. The first friend drops in, taking rich, deep turns. Yips of excitement echo through the bowl below. You check the time, and while your eyes are off the slope, a slide is triggered with one of your best friends in the fall line. Sheer panic fills your body; a pit hits your stomach. You can see their bright jacket down below. By the grace of luck and the skin of their teeth, they skated out of the slide safely. You start questioning everything that happened that morning. Who checked reports? Did we check everyone’s gear? Does everyone have proper gear? Should we report this? The excitement of the first big winter storm combined with a last-minute terrain change caused common sense to fly out the window. Here, we’ve painted a picture that is too often a reality. This time, with an outcome of no fatalities. It really sets in here that you and your friends may not always be so lucky …

In Colorado and surrounding states, we have access to a wide variety of knowledgeable resources for avalanche safety conditions. “Colorado Information Avalanche Center (CIAC), American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education (AIARE), avalanche.org and Know Before You Go (KBYG.org) are fantastic resources and a great way to get your knowledge base going,” shares Ethan Greene, director of CIAC. “The most important thing is to start somewhere. If your goal is to recreate in avalanche terrain, taking a course in the field with a professional is very helpful.”

Greene says that CIAC and other state agencies are now focusing on new ways to reach skiers and riders, social media being a huge player. “We don’t want to prejudge people where they are; we just want to give them access to [information] and give them the opportunity to know more,” he explains. By leaning more on the reach of Instagram, Greene feels they can access a young demographic looking to build the knowledge about avalanche terrain and mitigation of safety.

In the Vail Valley, we are always reaching for the next big adventure; it’s part of the culture. Most of us do the training, take the classes, and we’ve been skiing our whole lives. We ride and hike these trails in the summer and slice through snow on them in the winter; these steep slopes are our home. According to avalanche.org with statistics from the CIAC, seven avalanche-related deaths happened in Colorado last season. If we think we’re well educated, why do these near-death experiences and fatalities continue to happen every year?

“We all do risky behavior. Even though you might be the most celebrated soccer mom on your block, do you text and drive? Rather than finger pointing, we really need to step back as a community and say ‘what exactly happened,’ and just embrace that we do live in a community where we encourage risky behavior,” emphasizes Kelli Rohrig, Vail local, lead AIARE instructor, head of avalanche education with Paragon Guides, co-founder of The Glide Project and backcountry ski heuristic researcher.

In anything, especially outdoor sports, as we progress in skill level, we want to push the envelope. More challenging terrain, in more remote areas, farther away from emergency resources — it all goes hand in hand.

As a seasoned patroller, previous CIAC forecaster, AIARE certified guide and instructor, Kreston Rohrig understands the thrill and indescribable joy that comes with skiing in avalanche terrain.

“Honestly, there's nothing more fun

than skiing a big, steep line in a foot of powder,” he shares. “But, choosing what day and what conditions are appropriate, that's the real challenge.”

Having a safe day in avalanche terrain of the backcountry starts with being able to clearly identify and assess the risk of where you want to recreate.

“You can ski every day, all day, any time of year, be it high danger or low danger, but you have to choose appropriate terrain for reported conditions and manage the risk,” says Kreston Rohrig. “If you’re skiing big consequential avalanche terrain on a high danger day, that’s playing Russian roulette — barely taking one bullet out of the gun.”

When assessing and pursuing risk, we have to think about the feedback loop that develops in our brain. If we do something and get hurt or encounter an avalanche, we remember and formulate decisions to reduce the risk the next time we pursue a similar event. With skiing in the backcountry, the feedback loop is often broken. Without digging a pit and truly uncovering what’s going on underneath, it’s hard to predict the outcome of what’s unfolding below you. “It’s easy to see a 30-foot wave and know it’s dangerous,” he adds. "It’s not always easy to see a complex snowpack structure and be able to apply fracture dynamics in real time.”

Gain knowledge and apply it. Check daily conditions. Make educated and safe decisions. Skiers and riders who have been victim to the wrath of avalanches have taken all these precautionary steps and still had a fatal day in the backcountry … why? At some point, we need to recognize the role collective attitudes and cultural barriers play.

“There’s people who ski [avalanche terrain] every day and, 99 times out of 100, nothing happens, and that creates a pretty strong feedback loop that ‘we’re crushing it; we’re doing this right; we’ve got this.’ Those people certainly don’t want to be told they’re not doing it right,” says Kreston Rohrig.

Experience, unfortunately, doesn’t equal humility — a great thing to remember in any aspect of life but especially with skiing in the backcountry. Kelli Rohrig is someone who is quite accustomed to the egotism that can come along with backcountry knowledge. In her recent survey of skiers’ recovery and gear knowledge, specifically in the East Vail Chutes, she experienced a lot of snide remarks and rude interactions.

“It’s a hostile environment, and it’s just through culture. It’s been that way for 20 years,” she shares. “Back in the day, even when there were few skiers, it’s been an attitude of ‘this is my area, what are you doing here?’”

When interviewing Kelli Rohrig for this piece, we discussed ways to educate East Vail skiers on improved safety practices on some of the state’s steepest slopes. “Truth be told, a lot of East Vail skiers just don’t want to hear it," she says. “Or fatality wise, if you’re new in town, you really have no idea how many fatalities have been there. It’s not like there’s a poster at the gate listing the fatalities; even if there was, I think someone would probably take it down.”

Kelli Rohrig has some great ideas, like breaking down price barriers for rescue classes and educating youth on proper risk assessment through initiatives like The Glide Project, to remind their elder peers that they’re making dicey decisions. Ultimately, the attitude around winter backcountry culture needs to shift and education on safety practices need to be more financially accessible to the community.

Snow sports are celebrated here in the winter, as they should be, as there are few things that replicate flying or floating the way skiing does. For many, the added challenge and exhilaration of backcountry skiing and riding offers even more of that life-affirming feeling of “why we live here.” Kelli Rohrig reminds us that backcountry skiing is not a death wish; it’s the decisions around it that can determine an outcome.

“This isn’t this terrible activity that people go out and die,” she says. “This is an activity that is actually incredibly good for people's mental health. It’s what saves me, summer and winter.”

As long as we have a backcountry to explore, people will climb it to ride steep slopes of untouched powder. It’s no secret that the snowpack is changing with our ever-warming climate, a reality that will continue to impact this community and our winters in a very significant way. Perhaps, if we move together on a track of more knowledge and deeper reverence for the incredible forces of nature that are all around us, not only will we give more life and longevity to our adventurous Valley, but we’ll give it to the backcountry, too. +

By Sandy Ferguson Fuller

IIf you have ever visited Hollywood and strolled along the stars on the Walk of Fame, you know the feeling of walking among greatness. It’s different, but much the same, when browsing the tributes to a select group of “Coloradans” who are honored at the Colorado Snowsports Museum (CSM) and Hall of Fame in Vail. Each spring, five individuals who have contributed their talents, toil and time to the industry of skiing and snowboarding in the state are inducted into the group. These men and women live in Colorado; their personal achievements as athletes, entrepreneurs, inventors, etc. have gained national or international attention, heightening Colorado’s image as a leader in snowsports innovation. Several local Vail pioneers and Colorado ski industry legends were responsible for founding the original Colorado Ski Museum in May 1975. Here in Vail, the names of Pete Seibert, Terry Minger, Robert Parker, Don Simonton, J.D. Abbott and Earl Clark evoke an admiration similar to Hollywood’s reverence for “star” celebrities like Muhammad Ali, Doris Day, John Lennon, Shirley Temple, Glenn Miller, Elvis Presley and Aspen’s John Denver! As Town of Vail manager in 1975, Minger led the pilot group and recruited the support of ski leaders from the U.S. Forest Service, National Ski Patrol, Colorado Ski Country USA and others. You will learn about these visionaries during a visit to CSM, and most are included in the Hall of Fame.

To your Hall of Fame roster visit, add Stein Eriksen, Jake Burton Carpenter, Cindy Nelson, Howard Head, Pepi Gramshammer, Dick Durrance, Gerald Ford, Diane Boyer, Renie Gorsuch, Billy Kidd, Jimmy Heuga, Chris Klug, Willy Schaeffler, Buddy Werner and so many others, and you’ll know that you’ve landed among the brightest stars of snowsports. Learn more about all of these extraordinary honorees at the museum.

The executive director of the museum, Jen Mason, reminds us, “You never know who you’re going to run into at the museum! From local visitors like Dr. Richard Steadman and Tess

Johnson to Aspen’s Chris Davenport and others … it’s always worth stopping by.”

The museum’s newly renovated location is located at the central Bridge Street exit to the Vail Village parking structure, more visible and accessible to the 75,000 guests welcomed each year. The exhibits, some interactive, entertain and educate tourists, school groups, private functions and locals who enjoy repeat visits to freshen up on ski and snowboarding history. The valuable artifacts and exhibits housed in the museum continue to grow, with personal donations from skier collections over 100 years old and from early snowboarders who popularized their sport.

Curator and director of collections Dana Mathios explains, “Our exhibits are built from an object driven perspective — letting the artifacts showcased tell the story of our shared history and heritage. Our expanding 15,000 artifact collection speaks to the personal stories behind what helped build the snow sports industry we all know and love today. It’s through donations to the museum that we’re able to share and preserve Colorado snowsports stories.”

A current staff effort is to gather epic photos from the public to celebrate Vail Mountain ski runs — as well as photos showing the rich history of the 10th Mountain Division — to add to the portfolio of images in their exhibits.

Plan to spend quality time at this memorable place. It’s an anomaly in our famous destination resort town; admission is free to the public! There’s so much to see that you may want to step outside for some fresh air and the iconic view across the Covered Bridge to Vail Mountain. The gift store offers a selection of affordable treasures. Pick up classy souvenirs, clothes, unique décor, books, vintage ski posters and more, or shop online.

Airing continuously in CSM’s Theater, Climb to Glory is a 45-minute documentary film produced by Warren Miller Entertainment in collaboration with CSM, which chronicles the legendary history of World War II’s 10th Mountain Division. From the training at Colorado’s Camp Hale to the dramatic victories on Italy’s

Riva Ridge and Mount Belvedere, this is an entertaining and educational look back at these heroic mountain troopers. Narrated by Olympian freestyler and 2014 CSM inductee Jeremy Bloom and inspired by Warren Miller Athlete Chris Anthony, Climb to Glory highlights the 10th Mountain’s astounding impact on our country and the ski industry, while sharing signature Warren Miller film flair.

CSM houses a comprehensive display of snowboarding history, and it’s equally as complex and fascinating as skiing. Backcountry skiing and splitboarding are featured, as well as both original and contemporary equipment, safety information and more.

Focused on ski racing and snowboard competition? An interactive timeline display of facts and artifacts chronicles competitions over 11 decades until today. Of course, Vail’s local celebrity, Mikaela Shiffrin, enjoys the current spotlight.

Love your modern boots, board, skis, bindings or accessories? Or, are you already looking to trade up? You may reconsider and gain an enhanced appreciation for your gear when you view ski relics dating back to the 1860s. That’s when Scandinavian miners first strapped two pieces of wood onto their feet and tried to mosey down snowy, ungroomed mountains. You’ll marvel at the ability of these former athletes who accomplished such feats and skills with rudimentary equipment.

Fascinated by ski fashion? The museum will take you back in time to the early 1900s with baggy knickers, itchy handknit Norwegian sweaters, wool skirts, fur hats and clunky leather lace boots. Synthetic stretch pants dominated after WWII. Neon colors painted the slopes in the 80s, and Levi’s were acceptable, although never practical. Plastic helmets, plastic boots, plastic goggles and plastic-everything emerged, soon upgraded with improved materials. History repeats itself, and it’s fun to spot recurring trends and styles that come and go … most notably, one-piece suits, fur accessories, baggy trousers and even suspenders! By definition, this exhibit will continue to evolve and revolve with contemporary styles. Do you wonder what’s next?

Airing continuously in CSM’s Theater, Climb to Glory is a documentary film, which chronicles the legendary history of World War II’s 10th Mountain Division. From the training at Colorado’s Camp Hale to the dramatic victories on Italy’s Riva Ridge and Mount Belvedere, this is an entertaining and educational look back at these heroic mountain troopers. Narrated by Olympian freestyler Jeremy Bloom, Climb to Glory highlights the 10th Mountain’s astounding impact on our country and the ski industry, while sharing signature Warren Miller film flair.

CSM exceeds expectations as a rich, historical resource, a hallowed hall to celebrate great achievements, an entertaining venue to browse and to shop and, here’s the icing, an important part of CSM’s mission to offer programs to involve and educate the community about current issues and topics relevant to skiing and snowboarding. Most special events include a modest fee for CSM members and non-members. Examples include Vail History Walking tours to explore the past/present town of Vail and “Through the Lens” in-person and virtual programs featuring renowned authors and speakers who touch on local and state-wide history and current events. CSM is also open by reservation to host private parties and weddings.

The Resource Center and off-site storage facility for CSM is located in Wheat Ridge, Colorado, with the Vail Museum location serving as the Public Gallery. Maintaining the separate resource space allows CSM to facilitate the documentation and preservation of the ever-expanding collection, also exhibit construction. The CSM currently has artifacts on display in several other locations, like the Eagle County Airport and the Idaho Springs Heritage Museum and Visitor Center, and has worked with the Breckenridge Heritage Alliance, Denver International Airport, The Governor’s Mansion and more. Mason is based in Vail, and Mathios works from Wheat Ridge.

CSM strives to reveal the past, but also to project forward. An example is the exhibit, Colorado Ski Resorts/ Vail’s DNA & Climate/ Into the Future. This informative presentation is highlighted by the interactive Ski Resorts Table, providing in-depth information about Colorado’s active ski areas, along with 30 “Lost Resorts.” It features current mountain statistics, photos and videos, along with historical content on each resort. The “Vail’s DNA” portion of the exhibit tells the story of the birth and growth of the Vail Valley, from a small mountain village to a premier world ski and snowboard destination. Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, the exhibit touches on climate change and what it means for the future of snowsports.

CSM will be 50-years-old on May 23, 2025. In just over two years, there will be new innovations, information and industry challenges, new history and artifacts and Hall of Famers to feature at the Museum. Their broad mission will continue: celebrate Colorado snowsports by telling stories that educate and inspire others to seek adventure. +

TThere’s an estimated shortfall of 5,900 affordable housing units in Eagle County right now. According to a recent impact report by Habitat for Humanity Vail Valley, average single-family home prices in most Colorado resort counties have doubled since 2015, and the average weekly wage in Eagle County in 2022 was $1,249, while the average home sale price was $2.2 million. “The math really doesn’t work,” says Habitat for Humanity development director Elyse Howard. “The people who make up the fabric of our community cannot afford to live here.” This has been a disheartening fact in the Valley for a while now, with many families doubling and tripling up in small confines and service industry workers stacking roommates in bedrooms to make rent. But, tides are shifting, and what used to be a housing crisis among hotel housekeepers and dishwashers has percolated to bank tellers, police officers and teachers — the backbone of community services. “They all deserve to live where they work,” Howard says, pointing out that outlier communities like Eagle and Gypsum aren’t affordable anymore. “We want to root them in the community and keep them here. And, we’re locked between Vail Pass and Glenwood Canyon where it’s increasingly difficult to get a toehold to own a home.”

In 2021, Habitat for Humanity Vail Valley broke ground on its 100th home for hardworking locals, providing a path for safe and affordable housing. Habitat homeowners are educators, law enforcement officers, tradespeople,

healthcare, grocery store and resort employees who make the Eagle County wheels spin. Habitat’s track to homeownership is an in-depth process, requiring hard work, time and dedication in a partnership that includes performing “sweat equity,” or helping to build your own home or the homes of others. Sweat equity can also include taking homeownership classes or performing volunteer work in a Habitat ReStore.

Habitat for Humanity goes one step further and helps new homeowners prepare for the ins and outs of homeownership by offering classes on personal finance, mortgages, maintenance and upkeep of homes, and much more. “A Habitat home with an affordable mortgage gives financial freedom to families and helps build intergenerational wealth,” says Howard. “No longer consumed with working two or three jobs, families have time to spend together, helping create a better community for all.”

Raising her two children in an RV without running water, unsure if she would have to move again, Andrea Bryzicki became a Habitat for Humanity Vail Valley homeowner and set herself and her family up for success.

“My home allowed me to become a single mom, stay on my own and take care of my kids in a very safe place,” she says. “It’s life changing.”

As she settled into her home, Bryzicki continued her education, working towards her Early Childhood Director’s license, while working full time in the Eagle County School District. “If your basic needs are met, you can be a functioning part of society and give back so much more,” she says.

Humanity prospering. Tremendous donations from local businesses and leaders — including countertops from Gallegos, insulation from Green Sky (whose owner actually grew up in a Habitat home) and wood from Alpine Lumber — helps Habitat erect safe, solid homes.

In 2020 alone, 50 businesses donated $849,715 in goods and services. “We have this really great, large group of supporters and stakeholders,” Howard says. “That’s something that’s really special about our community.” An incredible amount of volunteer hours, along with funding from fundraising and grants helps fuel Habitat’s efforts. However, demand continues to outweigh supply.

“We’ve been doing this work in this community since ’95, and it’s getting harder and harder to put down roots here,” says Howard. “The need is there, and we’re just really trying to meet the moment and keep more families here long term.”

In a once-in-a-generation affordable housing investment, Colorado received $400 million in government funding at the end of 2020. A task force formed last summer to research affordable hous-

ing throughout the state, and, Howard says, it’s time for Eagle County to take advantage of as much of that funding as possible and double down on their Habitat building efforts.

Habitat for Humanity Vail Valley aims to double its impact by 2024, building 40 new homes and recycling six homes for qualified families. The organization is working closely with Kevin O’Donnell, president of Beck Building Company in Buena Vista, on a modular construction pilot program to lead the way on shorter home build times. In a partnership with the Eagle County School District, Habitat and O’Donnell constructed 16 homes along Third Street in Eagle, where 75% of the development is dedicated to school district employees.

At Stratton Flats in Gypsum, Habitat for Humanity Vail Valley built 40 homes between 2012 and 2019. In 2021, Habitat Vail Valley broke ground on eight additional homes. Upon completion, there will be 72 Habitat homes and four remaining sites in inventory at Stratton Flats.

Habitat opened a new ReStore a block from Costco in Gypsum in June, offering a place for the community to donate gently used furniture, appliances and materials, which provides a revenue stream back into area Habitat projects. The new retail space is located in the former Mountain Living furniture store and features everything from leather couches to artwork to microwaves and gas stoves. +

• Volunteer at the Habitat for

Humanity ReStore. • Donate gently used furnishings and appliances to the ReStore. • Volunteer to help build a home. • Donate money, property or building materials.

Habitat’s homeowner selection is managed at the local level. For more information, please call 970.748.6718 or email info@habitatvailvalley.org.

By Kimberly Nicoletti

IIce hockey is a fast-paced, team-oriented game that teaches kids life skills like responsibility, respect and discipline. But, the biggest draw seems to be the bonds both kids — and their parents — develop. “It’s unique, in a way, to other sports in that everyone comes together; even the parents are close. There’s an excitement around hockey, because it’s very fast-paced, so everyone’s cheering and involved in the same goal,” says local hockey mom Denise Rahe. Her son, 14-year-old Nathan Rahe, jokes that when you’re stuck in a cold rink together, you tend to get close, but the friendships extend beyond the arena. “Hockey becomes secondary to the bonds they have with their teammates. It’s all about the experience — playing knee hockey, pizza parties, staying with their friends in a hotel,” says Kristi Scheidegger, executive director of Vail Mountaineer Hockey Club. Many kids get involved because their dad, sibling or, in the case of 17-year-old Emily Law, grandma played hockey. Law enjoys the team aspects, like “having team dinners and rocking out to music in the locker room before games and encouraging team members to do their best and seeing a bunch of cool places in Colorado,” she says. The hockey community also acts as a support system. “Hockey was the one thing that always kept me going,” says college-student Jayden Mather. “On the days when I was having a really hard time at school, all I could think about was that I had hockey practice later on, and that would give me the motivation to keep going. Being on the ice with my team, the camaraderie, the fun environment, the adrenaline, the focus and challenge of being a goalie, the intensity of the game, having something that was challenging and exciting to put my attention on and get my mind off school were all things that really helped me.” Last season, the hockey community showed its strength after 11-year-old Lewis Browning died tragically in the Lionshead parking structure. Less than 12

hours later, his team manager and coaches made the difficult decision between “staying home and grieving alone or being the cohesive team that Lewis loved and traveling to their upcoming tournament to grieve together, share stories together, cry together and skate together,” says team manager Ande Murray.

Browning was the goalie, so, to pay respects, his team played with an empty net for the first three minutes of the game.

“They played their hearts out,” Murray says. “They played for Lewis. They did not let one puck cross center ice. It was heartbreaking and beautiful at the same moment to see the fortitude, perseverance and pure love they showed for their missing friend and for one other; it was truly inspiring. We parents needed to be together as much as our kids did. There wasn’t a dry eye in the rink.”

Support, flowers and condolences poured in from teams across the state, and hockey sticks throughout the community still read: Play for Lewis #30.

“The Mountaineer organization is a family, and when tragedy sadly and unexpectedly struck us last January, every single coach, player, parent and sibling stepped up to help in ways that I can’t even put into words,” Murray says. “The Mountaineer teams contin-

ued to do what Lewis loved for the rest of the season: play hockey, in honor of their teammate.”

With the Avs winning the Stanley Cup last season, the 2022 U.S. Olympic Women’s Hockey Team’s silver medal and local efforts to make the game more accessible in the Vail Valley, Vail Mountaineer Hockey Club continues to expand. This season, it added three more competitive travel teams and has seen a 171% increase in its girl’s program since 2018. About five years ago, Vail Mountaineers’ board of directors made it a priority to bring more girls into the game.

“Our numbers are growing, and hockey is growing nationwide,” Scheidegger says, crediting the National Hockey League’s nationwide Learn to Play program, as well as Mountain Recreation and Vail Recreation District, which introduce kids to hockey and make it affordable. “We offer the lowest hockey registration fees in Colorado because of our amazing fundraising and sponsors. Because of our incredible network, we subsidize 40% of costs.”

Vail Mountaineers relies on about 40 volunteer coaches, most of whom are parents who played hockey within a range of levels, from high school to professional leagues.

“They’re more invested than a professional coach, because their kids are on the team,” says director of hockey Dave Bishop. “We have great support from the community and the parents. This program wouldn’t exist without it.”

The team’s biggest fundraiser is the Vail Sportsmanship Tournament, now in its 43rd year. It takes place over four weekends in November, with teams at different levels and ages traveling from Nevada, Arizona, Texas and regions of Colorado. Last September, Vail Mountaineers held its fourth annual Avalanche weekend, where former Colorado Avalanche players came to Vail for golf tournaments, meet and greets, youth clinics and a game against a local, semi-pro team.

But, despite the robust fundraising,

volunteerism and enthusiasm, the local organization still has one main challenge: securing enough ice time. Between figure skating, public skating and other recreational ice times, it’s tough to schedule 14 teams three times a week.

“We have growing pains, so we have to work around them and get creative,” Scheidegger says.

That mostly involves two teams practicing on half the ice in the same hour slot, or, during 90-minute slots, each practicing on full ice for 30 minutes and sharing ice for 30 minutes.

Like all sports, hockey encourages not just athleticism, but also personal development.

“The sport is always challenging you to be better,” says Jayden Mather.

“Hockey is the motivating force for them to wake up every morning to go for a run and then work out before school and to bike to school and back and play different sports in the off-season, such as lacrosse, football, cross-country and soccer, so they can stay fit and in top shape for the hockey season. This motivation has resulted in tremendous self-discipline,” Jayden Mather’s mother, Melissa, says. “It has taught my kids to set goals for themselves: fitness goals, mastering new skills goals, self-improvement goals. It has taught them to be a team player, to always strive for the win and to show sportsmanship regardless of the outcome of the game.”

The club emphasizes good sportsmanship, rather than winning — though last season, four of its 11 teams earned the title of league champion.

“We try very hard to not make it a winor-nothing mentality,” Scheidegger says. “We’re here to develop every kid into not just a hockey player but also a good teammate, and that translates to being a good classmate in school and a good co-worker later in life.”

Melissa Mather’s 14-year-old son, Cameron, says hockey has helped him build social skills, and, “It definitely brings me joy.”

It also builds confidence.

“It taught me skills, but it also reminded me of the things I could do and the skills I have — that I’m an important part of the team,” Law says. “It’s a very selfless game.”

In fact, success depends on teamwork.

“It’s not a sport where one person can dominate, so you have to work together, and you get a great bond with your teammates,” Bishop says.

As a result, it hones communication skills.

“You have to be able to communicate with people mid-play under stressful situations,” says U-14 player Davis Place, adding that those communication skills “help if you have a bad grade — you can go talk to your teacher, and it’s a little less stressful.”

And, like all the other hockey players, 11-year-old Jules Mather has learned self-discipline, which she notes includes “having to be on time, not forgetting your gear, being respectful in the locker rooms and being kind to others.”

She plays on the co-ed team, “because it’s more of a challenge for me,” she says, adding that hockey “helps you with meditating and visualizing, and you can use that in your everyday life.”

So, if you have an urge to lace up a pair of skates, just beware; it might transform you.

“Once you’ve tried hockey,” Melissa Mather says, “it is hard not to have it become your life.” +