Ski Area Operations Graduate Patrick Torsell has his Finger on the Pulse of the Ski Industry Patrick Torsell climbs confidently into the snowcat parked on Harrison Ave. He swings his legs into the PistenBully and smiles at the crews preparing for the annual Ski Joring event. Though he is 1,700 miles from Harrisburg, PA where […]
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.
SAO Student Hired as Loveland Risk Manager
Ski Area Operations student hired as Risk Manager at Loveland Ski Area Warren Lewis learned to ski in the Bavarian Alps on Valentine’s Day in 2012 — but it wasn’t exactly a romantic ski vacation. He and his wife were stationed in Germany, while serving in the Army. They took a ski lesson from an […]
2018 Cloud City Rail Jam Results
If you drove Highway 24 through Leadville on Saturday March 24, 2018, you may have seen a large crowd congregating at the base of the Dutch Henri Hill. They weren’t there for the usual weekend tubing activities, but instead were cheering on their favorite competitors for the 14th annual Cloud City Rail Jam. “There were […]
14th Annual Cloud City Rail Jam March 24
The 14th Annual Cloud City Rail Jam returns to Leadville’s Dutch Henri Hill on Saturday, March 24, 2018 with a new twist. This year’s rail jam will include a pond skim event (weather dependent) as well as the classic all-ages rail jam competition. Entry is $15, cash only, and those who bring a non-perishable food […]
CMC work backbone of Leadville ski joring course
The Leadville Herald Democrat published this CMC Corner column in its Feb. 22 edition. This article is also published on enews.coloradomtn.edu. By Rachel Pokrandt, CMC vice president and campus dean, Leadville and Chaffee County The ski area operations program at Colorado Mountain College Leadville has been helping to make Leadville Ski Joring a success for […]
Ski Area Operations Video Contest
Ski Area Operations Video Contest The ski industry is all about video, just look on Youtube, Instagram and even Facebook. Media savvy Ski Area Operations students often produce video edits of park builds, trail grooming, resort days & backcountry adventures. This spring, SAO students who capture their time on the snow and in the classroom […]
Ski Area Operations: Groomed for Success
Ski Area Operations Graduate “Groomed” for Success In the last twelve years, Zach Collins, a 2007 graduate of the Ski Area Operations program has built an impressive ski industry resume. He’s worked on the grooming crew for Vail Mountain, Copper Mountain, and Beaver Creek, but his experience isn’t limited to Colorado mountains. Through his work, […]
SAO Grad Cultivates Colorado Ski Industry Career
From Snowcats to Chair Lifts; SAO graduate Alex Ranz develops ski area operations skills while cultivating a mountain career No one likes to wait in a lift line. Everyone wants to get on-and-off the chairlift as fast as possible, to spend more time exploring the mountain, and less time at a crowded base area. High […]
Avalanche Science Open House and Facebook Live Broadcast
Avalanche Science Open House & Facebook Live Broadcast Colorado Mountain College, known for snow-related degrees and outdoor programs, is excited to begin accepting applications for the new Avalanche Science program. On April 7, 2017, the CMC Leadville campus invites interested students to an open house event from 3 P.M. – 6:45 P.M. Students will be […]
2017 Cloud City Rail Jam
13th Annual Cloud City Rail Jam Jib-a-thon on March 25, 2017 Jibs, grabs, slides, spins… Show us your moves at the 13th Annual Cloud City Rail Jam Jib-a-thon on Saturday, March 25, 2017. The Colorado Mountain College Leadville backyard terrain park is ready to ride for Leadville’s premiere ski and snowboard terrain park event. The […]