It’s no surprise that last weekend’s Woodward ReMix and GoProYam Jam 2014 was a success. “A lot of great talent came out and the weather was perfect, making for a super fun day,” says Madeline Grande, Woodward Outreach Coordinator. “We focused on what Woodward is all about: training and giving kids the chance to work on their skills in one complete setting,” adds Grande.
Participants took advantage of free 30 minute skate, bike and trampoline Barn sessions, riding the rails, and checking out local pros as they shredded their boards and jumped their skis straight into the foam pits--extra frolicking in the pits was highly encouraged! Next, riders continued to tear up the Barn, mixing it up on skateboards and BMX bikes right in the bowl. Absinthes' film premier of Heavy Mental capped the day’s festivities to showcase and deliver some of the most progressive riding of the year. What’s new at Woodward for the 2014-2015 season? In spring 2013 Woodward underwent a half-million dollar renovation which led the way for skateboards, scooters, BMX and slopestyle mountain bikes to join in the mountain fun alongside snowboards and skis. Skatelite, a surface designed for wheels, replaced all synthetic snow surfaces. “This season Woodward has expanded from freestyle and basic ski and snowboard training to give more kids the chance to experience the Barn in tandem with ski and board lessons,” says Grande. If you’re one of the lucky teens (13-17 years old) who’s signed up for ski or snowboard lessons at Copper this season, you’re in for a treat. This season, your lessons will begin in the Barn utilizing the Skatelite learning terrain and Burton Snowboard’s Parkboard™ indoor snowboards and ParkSki™ training skis to give you a learning edge. You’ll be able to get used to sliding on the snow where it’s warm and cozy and you don’t even have to put on all your ski gear to do it. Once you’ve built your confidence, you’ll head out to the Green Acres learning terrain with your coach and give it a successful go translating your newfound skills onto the white pow. Woodward Specialty and Day Camps Woodward is also offering specialty 2-day freestyle camps sponsored by top industry brands like Never Summer, Lib Tech, and Saga, (think freebies!) beginning December 27-28. Campers will take their skills to the next level, spending half their days in the recently renovated Barn then moving out to Woodward’s award-winning terrain parks with top-notch coaches. “We just got the brand new Air Bag Jump, a rare experience at mountain resorts, which gives campers a soft landing and another great way to hone and progress in their skills here at Woodward,” says Grande. Woodward also offers two winter day camps where campers get the chance to play and perfect their tricks and skills in the Barn. The camps are February 23-27 and April 8-10, coinciding with Summit County school breaks. "These camps are a great option for the whole family. Working parents can be confident their kids will be having a fun, safe learning experience over their break," says Grande. Grande says that parents, siblings, even grandparents can experience Woodward while they’re at Copper. “You just need to be at least 8-years-old to participate and 90-year-olds are just as welcome to come play in our foam pits!” Woodward Copper Where else will you find cool prizes hidden inside of eggs, wacky competitions with crazy water features, a custom shredding circuit contest, free live music, paint-splashed snow-runners, even more live music, and scantily clad athletes parading down the mountain?
Copper's Communication Manager, Austyn Williams, sums this classic celebration up best: "Sunsation at Copper Mountain is the quintessential cherry on top of an incredible season, not mention the ideal time to lock in an impressive goggle tan. With live music and plenty of sunshine to go around, it is the must festival of the Rockies.” Sunsation Weekend #1 April 12, 13 On Saturday, April 12th, join in the fun at the Red Bull Slopesoakers, a terrain park competition where competitors will jib features suspended over two pools of water. This year's park will feature a pond skim, rail jam and a giant pool party! On Sunday, April 13th, strip down for the Eenie Weenie Bikini Contest. Back by popular demand for Copper's 40th Anniversary last year, this on-snow bikini contest (fellas - don your swimwear) allows you to show your stuff while you ski or board down to Center Village. This infamous bikini contest debuted at Copper Mountain in 1986 and has been featured in Rolling Stone magazine and Good Morning America. Afraid you might be too modest to participate? Check out the prizes and you might reconsider: $350 and a GoPro, a Copper Mountain 4-Pack, and Copper cash. Best of all, proceeds benefit Breckenridge non-profit Strap in for Life, whose mission is helping folks affected by cancer to experience snowboard culture on the mountain and beyond. Sunsation Weekend #2 April 19, 20 The Color Run’s first on-snow 5k race, Saturday, April19.Get started with a huge pre-race party then run or walk your way through a fun 5K manicured snowpath where you'll basically get splashed with paint throughout the run, followed by a huge paint splash at the finish line just in time for the epic Finish Festival! Colorado’s Largest Easter Egg Hunt - Retrieving your Copper Eggs entitles you to a trip to the prize tent for some excellent giveaways. Prizes include: Copper Mountain Gift Cards, ski passes, tubing tickets and summer activities passes, a GoPro and more! So-Gnar Shred Circuit Grand Finale - Head over to The Shred Circuit Finals at Woodward on Sunday, April 20 to watch some exciting competition. Each contest includes a custom park setup, presented by a select handful of Shred Circuit sponsors. Music, Music, Music You're in for a treat with Sunsation's 5-band soundtrack running in Burning Stones Plaza both weekends to go with all the fun and celebrating! Kick up your heels to the tunes of Old 97, pioneers in the alt-country movement with some cowpunk and power pop; Soothe your soul with a smooth mix of piano and guitar from Ft. Collins' Shaley Scott Band; Revel in an eclectic reggae-bluegrass-jam-folk playlist by local band, Leadville Cherokee; channel the days of big hair and shoulder pads through popular Denver-based That Eighties Band; and get your groove on with Summit County's Funky Johnson to delight you with covers of Earth, Wind and Fire, Stevie Wonder and Aretha Franklin. BONUS - Copper officially closes the season on Sunday, April 20th, but this year you get a special bonus - they'll re-open one last time on April 25th through the 27th for your spring skiing pleasure! We love the loads of pristine white snow that glisten in the sunlight under an azure and cloudless sky on our favorite bluebird day. And we crave that panoramic summit view – those endless miles of crisp pine-dotted Rockies towering amidst a boundless vault of atmosphere stretched infinitely overhead.
But Copper Mountain is keenly aware that the natural resources we’re in love with are actually finite and must be protected. So, a decade ago Copper embarked on an Energy Initiative Program designed to reduce energy consumption and energy resources to protect the beauty and wildness that magnetically draw us to this place. Copper Mountain’s environmental mission is to reduce, reuse, recycle – and rethink. A decade ago, back in 2004, Copper completed three major projects that set the tone:
In the years that followed, the ideas flowed and Copper began a partnership with The National Forest Foundation to donate a portion of lodging revenue to fund local forest conservation projects – now totaling over $115,000 in donations. In 2008, when Woodward at Copper was completed, it was awarded the Green Globes green building certification for using recycled materials and energy efficiency measures. That same year, Copper installed a solar system at the Transportation Center which currently generates an average of 5,900kWh annually. About four years ago, Copper began a pilot composting program at Jack’s food court. Currently, you’ll find composting at three major food courts and banquet operations here at Copper. At these venues, they’ve removed trash cans so all you have to do is put your tray into a large cart and let Copper employees do the messy, individual bin-sorting for you. Copper has even revamped their 2012 Green Team, which is made up of ten employees, each representing a different department around the resort. Stephanie Sweeney, one of the Green Team’s rethinking minds, works in Copper Mountain’s public relations department. “Gary Rogers, our general manager, revived the Green Team last season in an effort to make Copper’s green efforts bigger and better than ever,” says Sweeney. So, what can you do to help keep Copper clean and green?
Snowshoeing on the Mountain - A Great Alternative for Exploring Copper's Excellent Snowfall3/9/2014
When you think Copper, you probably think steep, powdery pitches down Spaulding Bowl and the Tucker Mountain snow cat access trails, Resolution Bowl’s black diamond Drain Pipe with its precipitous and sharp-mogul descent, and the playful cruisers shooting down Collage and Andy’s Encore that lead to more après ski adventure.
But did you know Copper also offers free, guided snowshoe tours leading into some pristine backcountry trails? I wasn’t aware that Copper offered this jewel of an activity, and I’ve been skiing here for years. I got a taste of the fun last week when friendly Copper Mountain Resort Ambassadors Steve Cornwell and Will Chester led a small group of us on a 3-mile, 3-hour tour from Union Creek up toward Vail Pass. These helpful and spunky guides in the bright green coats thoroughly know the mountain, plus they graciously offer up hand warmers, snacks, and water to keep their guests happy along the way. This was a bluebird day, perfect for soaking in the gorgeous landscape. While we journeyed into the wilderness, Cornwell entertained us with interesting tales of nesting owls in the rafters of the I-70 underpass, lynx resettlement from Tucker Mountain, the necessity of tree-well avoidance and avalanche safety, the process by which Ponderosa pines suffer from pine beetle kill, and why exactly that striped bra is decorating a small pine tree also laden with boxer shorts and shiny beads. The time flew by and I was hungry for even more adventure as we reached our half-way mark. At that point Chester and Cornwell sparked my wanderlust by motioning toward the sign marking an adjacent trail leading up to popular Janet’s Cabin - part of the 10th Mountain Division’s extensive system of huts used for backcountry lodging. I would definitely plan that in for another day. “You can take a day trip up to the hut for a picnic, or you can reserve it for a night or two and make a longer trip either via the West Tenmile trail at the top of Copper’s K and L lifts, or by starting at the trailhead at the top of Vail Pass,” our guides told us. (I’ve stayed in a couple of huts in the Tenth Mountain Hut system, and it’s definitely worth the sign-up and wait for these backcountry treasures.) “Copper's snowshoe tours are great for acclimating to altitude if you’re visiting Copper from lower elevations; for orienting you to the snowshoe trail options nearby; and a perfect alternate activity for friends and family who just really don’t like to ski,” says Cornwell. Click here for more Copper Ambassador Snowshoe Tour details and call Guest Services at 970.968.2882 x45862 to make reservations.
It was the perfect way to spend Valentine’s and President’s Day weekend: sampling pairings of stellar wines and sumptuous variations of chicken wings amidst a flurry of snowflakes that fluffed up Copper’s solid 55” base.
The 4th Annual Copper Uncorked contest playfully pitted chefs from eight of Copper’s favorite eateries against each other in Copper’s Burning Stones Plaza (at the base of the American Eagle lift) for a tasty and fun wine and wing challenge where guests voted for their favorite creation in the You Be the Judge Tasting Tour. Local bluegrass band, The Pine Beatles, added a funky background rhythm to the festivities. With mouth-watering treats like bacon-wrapped, lobster-stuffed, and Caribbean jerk wings you couldn’t decide on just one winner. It was a tie, and Jack’s and JJ’s Mountain Grill shared the honors for best wine and wings pairing. Jack’s Dave Taladay wowed with Chicken Confit, magically mixing mango, orange, habanero and mole to spice up his wings, pairing them with a Bluefeld Reisling you couldn’t resist. JJ’s Jeff McGlothin charmed you with Coq au vin en croute: a Redbird all-natural drumstick slow-braised in red wine with mitake mushrooms, candied parsnip, sweet peas and caramelized shallot wrapped in a short dough crust paired with Dreaming Tree Crush (yes, DMB fans, this wine hails from Dave Matthews’ vineyard). There were really no losers in this competition where chefs from CB Grille, Incline, Jill's, Union Creek, Storm King and Endo's also pampered your taste buds and had you craving more. “We had a great turnout, the snow was beautiful, and everyone had a really fun time,” said Mary Gary, Copper’s Conferences and Group Services Coordinator. Both winners came away with a Big Green Egg Grill, sure to fuel their future creative culinary imaginations. Gary says that 10% of the proceeds from Copper Uncorked went to the Copper Environmental Fund to suppport youth environmental projects in Summit and Lake Counties. Some visionary Copper employees started CEF back in 2007 with a long-term goal to support and give back to environmental initiatives in Summit County and the surrounding area. Funds from CEF support organizations such as Friends of the Dillon Ranger District, Summit County Pre-School, Summit School District, Keystone Science School, Girl Scouts and High Country Conservation Center. Spirited events, amazing snow, delicious food and wine, plus a caring community – the very reasons you keep coming back to Copper, right? After a snow-filled wonderland of a day on the mountain where a friend and I took advantage of the glorious 11” dump of white stuff last week, we headed to Casa Sanchez to devour some hearty Mexican fare. Our legs were pleasantly achy from all those luscious, powdery turns and we looked forward to eating all things hot and spicy to thaw our chilly bones.
We weren’t disappointed, as our waiter set down some amazing and just-the-right-heat salsa and chips, which didn’t last long. This home-made salsa was especially fresh and tasted much different than the standard tomato-pasty glop I’ve gulped down at other Mexican restaurants. When I asked owner, Roger Sanchez, what special ingredient makes his salsa different, he told me they prepare it with fresh tomatoes, jalapenos, green onions, cilantro and garlic; I figured he must have kept the secret ingredient I imagined to himself. It was now time to order cocktails. My friend enjoyed a very drinkable Bohemia beer, a light, malty, German pilsner-style brew from Mexico. After deliberating over their large array of margarita choices, I indulged in a Cadillac Margarita – which, when it came to the table, looked more like two margaritas combined into one huge glass. It was really perfect, and yes I finished it down to the last icy slurp. Sanchez told me I really should have ordered the House Margarita because of the Hornitos tequila, so I’ll definitely look forward to that one when I return. (I could have actually gotten two margaritas for the price of one as part of their Happy Hour special, but since I couldn’t take it with me in a to-go cup, I wisely had to decline.) After perusing their extensive menu, I ordered the fish tacos; I’ve never seen such a huge plate. They filled my three tasty soft corn tacos with tilapia, avocados, and tomato, then doused them with a delicious, tangy chipotle sauce and nestled them next to huge portions of refried beans and Mexican rice. Try as I might, I just couldn’t finish it and took the rest home for another meal. My friend ordered the (huge and delicious) pork burrito topped with some amazing home-made green chili and had to resort to a to-go box as well. Sanchez says they make everything in-house, and the authentic Mexican flavors truly did shine through. When I asked him what everyone’s favorite dish was, he said it had to be either the pork carnitas or the beef fajitas; I knew I’d have to try them out when I was finally hungry again, which I predicted wouldn’t occur again for a couple more days. Casa Sanchez Menu 189 Ten Mile Circle Village Square Phone: 970-968-2081 Colorado’s sporadic, heavy snowstorms and our dry and windy climate mix to create fragile and inconsistent snow packs which often contribute to large and dangerous avalanches.
If your backcountry wanderlust led you to become buried in one of these frozen deluges your chance of survival would be cut in half after 30 minutes. Avalanche search and rescue dogs speed up the process to dictate the difference between life and death. A sobering topic, to be sure, but Copper’s Ski Patrol Foreman, Mike Russo, a 20-year ski patrol veteran, offers a surefire method to avoid this fate: “Observe and obey ski area closures and never cross a rope – we close trails to protect you from potentially dangerous avalanche conditions. Our ropes are deployed in a way to make it easy, and safe, for you to get from one open area to another.” January is the National Ski Areas Association’s (NSAA) Annual Safety Awareness Month, and Copper is proud to have won top awards the past three seasons and for receiving “Best Overall Safety Program” for a large resort in the nation in 2013. Copper isn’t new to training these furry, four-legged heroes: its Canine Avalanche Rescue Unit has been in place for the past twenty years. This is Russo’s first year working as a handler for four-year-old Race, a female yellow lab, one of Copper’s six avy rescue dogs. “Race started out in another program as a wheelchair assistance service dog, but she couldn’t pass the final test because they couldn’t break her of two habits: putting her nose to the ground and her high energy level,” says Russo. The program directors reached out to John Reller, another Copper Ski Patrol veteran and a nationally recognized avalanche search and rescue dog trainer, to find out if he could help place her into a different venue. Reller obliged and brought Race into Copper’s avy dog program and into his own home; he’s now her owner. The very characteristics which made Race fail at her job of helping folks in wheelchairs make her priceless in her destiny of locating stranded avalanche victims. “It’s a pretty good fit for her,” says Russo. Russo says that when there’s been a local avalanche and victims are involved, the Summit County Rescue Group dispatches an available Flight for Life Colorado helicopter to carry a search dog, a handler and a snow technician who are airlifted directly to the backcountry avalanche site. “Snow is porous, so a person’s scent travels well,” says Russo. Post-avalanche “the dogs search the debris field and clue onto the scent cone, the location in the snow where the scent converges and reaches the air. They scan back and forth with their noses to the ground to pinpoint where the scent is coming from. Then they bark and dig, and the handler is able to tell the rest of the team where to begin working,” says Russo. “The process is really fairly accurate. These dogs save us a tremendous amount of time; and if a person is wearing an avalanche beacon we find them that much sooner,” says Russo. Some of Copper’s avy dogs are cross-trained to make rescues in the summer as well, since the Summit County Rescue Group, an all-volunteer, non-profit arm of Summit County’s Sheriff’s office provides year-round backcountry search and rescue services to the entire county. What’s a typical day in the life of a Copper avy dog? “Race comes to work with me in the morning, and she gets up the mountain using the same means I do: riding the lift, or riding the snow mobile or snow cat,” Russo says. The Copper Ski Patrol also employs explosives to preemptively set off smaller, controlled avalanches, “so our dogs can’t be easily spooked by loud noises,” says Russo. “The key thing for our dogs is socialization,” says Russo. Even though Reller owns Race “she stays at our house part-time and plays with our kids. She’s a fully-trained, highly obedient dog,” Russo explains. What prompted Russo to become an avy dog handler? “As the dad of two small kids, I vowed I’d never have a child in diapers and a dog at the same time. I really wanted to be part of the program first before I considered getting a family dog," says Russo. According to Russo, here’s one of the many perks of handling your own avy dog: “It gives me a whole new aspect to my day; now I have a compadre by my side, and she’s excited about our work. The dogs know what to do; the handler just reads what the dog is telling them.” More safety tips and information -
2. People ahead of you have the right of way. It is your responsibility to avoid them. 3.You must not stop where you obstruct a trail, or are not visible from above. 4. Whenever starting downhill or merging into a trail, look uphill and yield to others. 5. Always use devices to help prevent runaway equipment. 6. Observe all posted signs and warnings. Keep off closed trails and out of closed areas. 7. Prior to using any lift, you must have the knowledge and ability to load, ride and unload safely.
In an era of slick and commercial citizen’s sports races, Frisco’s Gold Rush is a stand-out. This collection of family-friendly and competitive Nordic ski races, the longest running in Colorado, has been a core community event near the shores of sparkling Lake Dillon for close to half a century. And the swag for displaying your athletic prowess at this down-home event is way cooler than a water bottle and a t-shirt: participants receive a unique pair of commemorative Frisco Gold Rush socks, a steaming and savory bowl of homemade chili chock-full of fresh veggies at the finish, plus the chance to compete for prizes designed by local artist, Sheila Trowbridge.
This year, Therese Dalton and her husband, Gene, are celebrating 25 years of owning and operating Frisco Nordic Center, the hub of the event. “Gene skied the very first Gold Rush, and many more after that with our kids,” says Dalton. “This event means a lot to our community; it’s a tradition.” Gene Dayton’s vision led him to build the first groomed Nordic trails in Summit County and Therese Dayton’s program directing (and chili cooking) expertise has set the stage for Frisco Nordic Center’s positive community impact. Proceeds from Frisco Gold Rush benefit the Summit Nordic Ski Club and members’ costs to reach the junior nationals. Frisco Gold Rush brings in as many as 350 racers each year, and this year they’re excited to expand by welcoming the Colorado High School Activities Association (CHSAA) and its 200-300 middle and high school student racers to compete and qualify for the state meet. Dalton says they create the race courses with various abilities in mind: “from flat, easy hills and baseball type fields; to the Frisco Bay Trail, a great rolling trail with kettle moraine topography; to the groomed forest service campground roads; to our famous, double-black diamond Buzz Saw trail, opening this week.” The races range from a fun 5K ski course, “where people pull their kids in sleds,” to a challenging 30K trek, says Dalton. “Whether you come out to watch, ring a bell and volunteer, snowshoe or ski, and listen to music, there’s something here for everyone - we always put on a festive atmosphere here at Gold Rush.” Sponsors Swix and Bee Nut Free will be on hand to wax racer’s skis and give away non-allergenic snacks for the trek. There’s even a 1K treasure hunt for the little tykes who want to snowshoe, ski, or even ride by sled to retrieve their goodie bags. Apres race there’s another special treat: the Spontaneous Combustion Bonfire (set ablaze with left-over community Christmas trees used as kindling) and “the most amazing fireworks, over Lake Dillon,” says Dalton. To register visit www.friscogoldrush.com. Pre-registration is open until 12 p.m. (noon) on Friday, January 10, 2014 and entry fees vary from $20-$35 per race. Day-of registration fees will increase by $5 per race. For further information, please contact Linsey Kach at LinseyK@townoffrisco.com or 970-668-9133. The complete list of the Gold Rush events Friday, January 10, 2014 4:00 p.m. – Free Frisco Historic Park Movie Night at the Log Chapel in the Frisco Historic Park - a screening of the original 1925 classic Charlie Chaplin movie, The Gold Rush. Doors will open at 3:30 p.m. with seating available on a first come, first seated basis. Hot cider and popcorn will be served. Saturday, January 11, 2014
Are you feeling that candy-cane-and-mistletoe holiday season love, but itching for a sparkling twist to your usual winter wonderland? The 12 Days of Copper celebration promises way more family fun than a gaggle of geese, a quirky partridge, and some crazy guys leaping around in tights.
Copper’s Christmas Tree in Burning Stones Plaza is lit up and gleaming, and we’ve heard tell that Santa, Rudolph, the Gingerbread folks and Elkguin, Copper’s own mascot (a mystical blend of, you guessed it, an elk and a penguin) will make an appearance to hear your kids’ wish list and let you capture some rare photo ops on Christmas Eve. During the fun 12-day celebration, you’ll get the chance to bundle up in your cozy scarf and mittens, hot cocoa in hand, to catch a glimpse of your favorite elite athletes as they qualify for the Olympics and the X Games - right here on the Copper hill. Free skiers and boarders will be competing in the Sprint Grand Prix Finals to decide who qualifies to head to Sochi for the January Olympics, and you’ll be able to spy racers at the Rocky Mountain Series Rail Jam in Copper’s own terrain park as they shoot the rails to compete for coveted slots at Aspen’s January X Games. The Copper staff says that some of the celebration’s most magical experiences happen on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. This is when you can warm up next to a bonfire, hear carolers sing your favorite tunes, and watch the breathtaking Torchlight Parade glitter and glow as Copper staff and instructors make their way down the shadowy mountainside in a floating stream of twinkling lights. Your little elves can join in on the kids’ Glow Light Parade to help light up Copper’s Town Center. And where else will you get to see Santa shoot down the mountain via zip line en route to spread good cheer and gifts across the land? The grand finale caps off the celebration with Copper’s one-of-a-kind spectacular fireworks display over the lake. (Yes – it promises to be even better than that Currier and Ives Christmas card in your head! ) New Year’s Eve brings an additional bevy of festivities – two fireworks shows, another awesome Torchlight Parade, amazing fire dancers and free, live music with John Truscelli and Lefty Lucy at Jack’s Bar. Erin Kennedy, Marketing Manager for the Village at Copper, says that her most memorable 12 Days of Copper happened when she was dressed up as Rudolph one Christmas Eve. “A teeny, tiny little guy came up and gave me the biggest hug and told me, ‘I love you, Rudolph!’ It was my favorite professional moment. I hugged him back, but, of course, I couldn’t say anything since I was Rudolph! I really love this whole celebration – it's a truly special way for kids and families to spend the holidays,” says Kennedy. Schedule of Events for the 12 Days of Copper December 20 –December 31, 2013 December 21, 22, 23 The 12 Days of Copper – Magical Festivities to Sparkle up Your Holidays!
Are you feeling that candy-cane-and-mistletoe holiday season love, but itching for a sparkling twist to your usual winter wonderland? The 12 Days of Copper celebration promises way more family fun than a gaggle of geese, a quirky partridge, and some crazy guys leaping around in tights. Copper’s Christmas Tree in Burning Stones Plaza is lit up and gleaming, and we’ve heard tell that Santa, Rudolph, the Gingerbread folks and Elkguin, Copper’s own mascot (a mystical blend of, you guessed it, an elk and a penguin) will make an appearance to hear your kids’ wish list and let you capture some rare photo ops on Christmas Eve. During the fun 12-day celebration, you’ll get the chance to bundle up in your cozy scarf and mittens, hot cocoa in hand, to catch a glimpse of your favorite elite athletes as they qualify for the Olympics and the X Games - right here on the Copper hill. Free skiers and boarders will be competing in the Sprint Grand Prix Finals to decide who qualifies to head to Sochi for the January Olympics, and you’ll be able to spy racers at the Rocky Mountain Series Rail Jam in Copper’s own terrain park as they shoot the rails to compete for coveted slots at Aspen’s January X Games. The Copper staff says that some of the celebration’s most magical experiences happen on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. This is when you can warm up next to a bonfire, hear carolers sing your favorite tunes, and watch the breathtaking Torchlight Parade glitter and glow as Copper staff and instructors make their way down the shadowy mountainside in a floating stream of twinkling lights. Your little elves can join in on the kids’ Glow Light Parade to help light up Copper’s Town Center. And where else will you get to see Santa shoot down the mountain via zip line en route to spread good cheer and gifts across the land? The grand finale caps off the celebration with Copper’s one-of-a-kind spectacular fireworks display over the lake. (Yes – it promises to be even better than that Currier and Ives Christmas card in your head! ) New Year’s Eve brings an additional bevy of festivities – two fireworks shows, another awesome Torchlight Parade, amazing fire dancers and free, live music with John Truscelli and Lefty Lucy at Jack’s Bar. Erin Kennedy, Marketing Manager for the Village at Copper, says that her most memorable 12 Days of Copper happened when she was dressed up as Rudolph one Christmas Eve. “A teeny, tiny little guy came up and gave me the biggest hug and told me, ‘I love you, Rudolph!’ It was my favorite professional moment. I hugged him back, but, of course, I couldn’t say anything since I was Rudolph! I really love this whole celebration – it's a truly special way for kids and families to spend the holidays,” says Kennedy. Schedule of Events for the 12 Days of Copper December 20 –December 31, 2013 December 21, 22, 23 12 pm – 3 pm: Santa comes to Copper (Burning Stones Plaza) December 24 12 pm – 2 pm: Summit Choral Society Carolers 5 pm – 7 pm: Torchlight Parade, kids’ glow-light parade, Santa, bonfires and fireworks 5 pm and 7:30 pm: Copper Mountain Chapel and Community Church Candlelight Services December 31 5 pm – 7 pm: Rail Session, torchlight parade, kids’ glow-light parade, fire dancers and fireworks over West Lake 10 pm: Ring in the New Year with spectacular mountain-side fireworks show and specials throughout the resort 12 Days of Copper Deals & Steals:
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