Adaptive Skier Sues Winter Park Resort After Chairlift Fall and Severe Injuries

In March 2023, Arturo Burgueno, an  experienced sit-skier from Texas, experienced a life-altering fall while visiting Winter Park Resort in Colorado. Before loading onto the Explorer Express chairlift, Burgueno was allegedly directed by a lift operator to board the chair from behind the standard loading area. This lapse in protocol, according to Burgueno, led to an improper on-load and caused him to fall from the lift shortly after it passed the first tower.

The fall resulted in numerous injuries, including fractured ribs, internal injuries, and significant trauma to his legs, requiring hospitalization and extensive medical care. On January 2, 2025, Burgueno filed a lawsuit against Winter Park Resort, its parent company Alterra Mountain Co., and the lift operator, alleging negligence in their handling of the chairlift loading process.

The lawsuit accuses Winter Park of failing to follow proper safety protocols and adequately train their staff on the specific needs of adaptive skiers. In response, Winter Park Resort has acknowledged awareness of the incident but has declined to comment on ongoing litigation. The case raises broader concerns about the safety and accessibility of chairlift operations for adaptive skiers.