Telluride Ski Patrol Approves Three-Year Contract to End 13-Day Strike

After a tense 13-day stalemate that left the San Juan mountains uncharacteristically quiet during the peak holiday season, the Telluride Professional Ski Patrol Association (TPSPA) has officially voted to ratify a new contract. The agreement, reached on Thursday, January 8, 2026, brings an end to the strike that began on December 27 and shuttered one of Colorado's most iconic freeride destinations.

While the resort managed a "limited reopening" on January 5 with just 2% of its terrain served by skeleton crews, the resolution of the labor dispute means the full mountain is finally ready to roar back to life.

While the ratification brings a sigh of relief to the San Juans, it wasn't a total victory for the patrol. Union members described the final vote as "bittersweet" and "less than ideal." The union initially pushed for a 27-30% wage increase to fix what they called a "broken and compressed" wage structure that failed to account for the skyrocketing cost of living in Telluride—which is roughly 75% higher than the national average.

They fought for a starting wage of $28/hour but eventually accepted a deal that lands closer to $24/hour for trainees. However, they successfully secured significant bumps for senior patrollers and station leads. Ultimately, the patrollers accepted the compromise not because they were satisfied with the numbers, but because of a darker truth: the strike was causing more pain to local families and businesses than it was to the resort's bottom line.

The 13-day closure was an economic nightmare for locals. Lodging bookings plummeted by over 40% during the busiest window of the year, and small businesses reported massive losses. Tensions peaked on January 7 when over 100 local merchants and residents marched through town, pleading for a resolution to prevent the permanent destruction of the community's winter economy.

One of the most powerful stories to emerge from the strike was the community's rallying cry via the Telluride Foundation’s Good Neighbor Fund. Despite being out of work, the TPSPA raised over $155,000 via GoFundMe.

Proving they are truly the "good neighbors" of the mountain, the union didn't just keep the money for themselves. They partnered with the Tri-County Health Network to funnel a portion of those funds back into the Good Neighbor Fund to help any community member—not just patrollers—pay for rent, groceries, and medical bills. They even set up a mini-food bank at the Oak Street Plaza, providing free meals to other out-of-work resort employees and seasonal staff.

Telluride Ski & Golf has confirmed that the resort will begin its major reopening phase this Saturday, January 10. Lift 4 is slated to spin first, with additional lifts and more of Telluride’s legendary steep terrain expected to follow shortly as the patrol returns to the slopes to perform essential safety checks and avalanche mitigation.

The heart of any mountain isn't just the terrain; it's the people who keep it safe so we can drop in with confidence. The dedication shown by the Telluride patrol, both on the picket line and in their fundraising efforts, reminds us of the "all-in" mentality we see from our athletes. It’s about more than just the ride; it’s about protecting the community and the lifestyle we live for.