Powder Chaser to Avalanche Forecaster by Lauren Swanson Like most mountain folks, Mark Mueller fell in love with snow culture at a young age. He had his first taste of the ski industry in high school, while working at local ski shops. After graduation, Mark headed to Alpine Meadows in northern California to chase the […]
Ski Area Operations
Earn a college degree in Ski Area Operations from Colorado Mountain College
Put your passion to work with a career in ski area management! On the slopes and off, you’ll be close to the sport you love and on top of the latest trends.
The Ski Area Operations Degree Program at Colorado Mountain College is the most comprehensive training program of its kind in the nation, and the only one in the heart of Rocky Mountain ski country. You’ll get hands-on experience and access to the best champagne powder snow in the world.
Be prepared for a job in:
- Lift installation
- Ski area design and management
- Mountain operations
- Safety management
In addition to an Associate of Applied Science: Ski Area Operations, students can earn certificates in:
- Ropeway Maintenance Technician
- Ski Area Operations Management
- Ski Patrol Operations
- Slope and Trail Maintenance
For 30 years, Ski Area Operations degree and Ski Area Management degree graduates from Colorado Mountain College have helped shape the snowboard and ski industry worldwide. A blend of technical and hands-on training sets our students apart, not to mention easy access to nine Colorado ski resorts including Steamboat, Vail, Copper Mountain, Breckenridge and Keystone.
The Notorious Leadville Powder Guild
By Lauren Swanson It was well after midnight in November 1983, when Ski Area Operations (SAO) students committed their first infraction of the day—breaking and entering. The students, known affectionately as the Leadville Powder Guild, entered the SAO shop with the intentions of temporarily relocating equipment and classroom property onto the front lawn of their […]
From Leadville to the Alps; An International Grooming Adventure
Grooming around the world Ski area operations alum Karen Gilliot runs snowcats in both hemispheres. by Carrie Click This article was originally published by Carrie Click at enews.coloradomtn.edu. While Karen Bruce Gilliot was growing up in Belle Vernon, a little borough outside Pittsburgh, she skied at Seven Springs. It’s a Pennsylvania ski area that tops out […]
Leadville Trail Dozer Operations
CMC Sculpts New Trails and Leaders in Colorado’s Trail Building Industry Trail Dozer Operations in Leadville Colorado Mountain College’s Leadville campus recently partnered with Tony Boone Trails, LLC out of Salida to pilot Trail Dozer Operations, a class in mechanical trail construction. Utilizing two state-of-the-art trail dozers, six students practiced sculpting contoured trails, berms, and […]
Cloud City Rail Jam Results
Cloud City Rail Jam Results, 2016 by Anna Sophia Wolner Another year, another snowy Saturday in March. On March 26th, Colorado Mountain College’s Ski Area Operations students put on their annual Cloud City Rail Jam—an event where skiers and snowboarders of varying abilities showcase their talents in a competition, entering for a chance to win […]
CMC Leadville Rail Jam
12th Annual Leadville Rail Jam on March 26, 2016 Spring is in the air, and so are Leadville rail jam competitors practicing their grabs, spins, and jibs for this year’s rail jam! The 12th Annual Cloud City Rail Jam will be held in the Backyard Terrain Park at Colorado Mountain College – Leadville […]
Ski Industry Careers Launch in Leadville
Ski Industry Careers Launch in Leadville Daniel Burl, 20-year-old Ski Area Operations student, has been involved in the ski and snowboard industry for more than a decade. Thanks to his mother, who was the Assistant Ski School Director at his home mountain, he began pursuing his passion as a Junior Instructor at 7 years old. Daniel spent his childhood […]
Leadville Named Top Colorado Adventure Town
Leadville Named Top Colorado Adventure Town Our secret is out. Leadville was named the best [mid-sized] Colorado Adventure Town in the November issue of Elevation Outdoors Magazine. This past fall Elevation Outdoors divided 48 of their favorite active Colorado communities into 3 categories; small, mid-sized, and large adventure towns. They asked readers to participate by voting for […]
11th Annual Cloud City Rail Jam on March 28th
11th Annual Cloud City Rail Jam on March 28th The 11th Annual Cloud City Rail Jam at Colorado Mountain College in Leadville will be held at the on-campus freestyle terrain park on March 28th, 2015. Students and terrain park enthusiasts will be excited to learn that this year’s event will be in a brand […]
Snow Dreams Come True: Ski Area Operations Program
Snow Dreams Come True: Ski Area Operations Program Colorado Mountain College is playing a key role in the next generation of ski area groomers, snowmakers and mechanics thanks to its Ski Area Operations program. This article was published in the January 2015 issue of Snow Grooming magazine By Jim Timlick. It sounds like a young skier […]