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Top 5 stories on SummitDaily.com, week of Oct. 27

Snow continues to fall at Keystone Resort on Tuesday, Oct. 29. Keystone and Breckenridge Ski Area reported Wednesday that they broke their historical October snowfall records.
Liz Copan / ecopan@summitdaily.com

Editor’s note: Stories in this list received the most page views on SummitDaily.com for the past week.

1. Have you ever read the fine print on a ski area waiver? Here’s what you agree to when you sign

When you buy a lift pass at any ski area, you have to sign a waiver. Most people don’t actually read it, but it severely limits liability for a ski resort, even in cases when claims are based on resort negligence.



Monika May, a 55-year-old from Colorado Springs, knows that all too well after she was injured at Breckenridge Ski Resort. May said a lift operator walked into a moving chair, causing it to ricochet off his body and swing wildly before hitting her. Almost three years later, May said she cannot ski and is still recovering from her injuries.

The waiver a season passholder signs when purchasing an Epic Pass from Vail Resorts bars a skier or snowboarder from suing the company. By signing a waiver, May was barred from taking any legal action against Vail Resorts, and several lawyers declined to take her case.



— Taylor Sienkiewicz

2. Keystone, Breckenridge ski areas see record October snowfall. Keystone to open additional terrain Friday

Keystone Resort and Breckenridge Ski Resort announced Wednesday, Oct. 30, that they had broken their historical snowfall records for October. 

With a total of 48 inches as of Wednesday, Breckenridge surpassed the previous record of 46 inches set in 2006. At Keystone, the mountain has accumulated 44 inches of snow so far this month, breaking its 43-inch record from the same year.

Keystone had enough early season snow to open Oct. 12, earlier than it had in decades.

— Taylor Sienkiewicz

3. Breckenridge man who died mountain biking near Whistler remembered as a passionate athlete

A Breckenridge man and founder of Great Western Lodging died while mountain biking in British Columbia, Canada, earlier this week.

On Sunday, Oct. 27, 54-year-old Chad Christy was mountain biking when he suffered a cardiac event. For family members, it was somewhat of a relief that Christy got to spend his last moments atop a bike and pushing his own limits, which was certainly one of his life’s greatest passions.

Biking was a way of life for Christy, even in his early years. He went pro as a BMX rider when he was just a teenager, traveling around the country to compete. He moved to Summit County in 1986, founding Great Western Lodging in 1997, a property and rental management company based out of Breckenridge. In retirement, like in most of his life, Christy spent his days outside surfing, windsurfing, mountain biking, skiing and traveling.

Sawyer D’Argonne

4. Luxury home sales are up — and Summit County has lots of real estate ready to be sold

With a record number of building permits issued in Summit County, up 10% from last year for the Summit County Building Inspection Department alone, real estate is looking pretty optimistic as well. While the total number of real estate sales are down about 12%, volume of sales and luxury homes sold are up. 

“Even though we were down in September by 25 sales we went up in value,” Thomas Coolidge, president of the Summit Association of Realtors, said. “It’s an interesting data point about Summit County. It’s just such a strong market that people want to be here.”

Coolidge shared that the days on market for a home being sold right now in Summit County is historically low. 

“If properties are priced right they’re literally going under contract in a week,” Coolidge said.

— Taylor Sienkiewicz

5. Arapahoe Basin Ski Area’s new uphill access policy now includes a $30 fee

Arapahoe Basin Ski Area will charge $30 this season for uphill access skiing and snowboarding. Season passholders will not have to pay the fee.

It’s the first year A-Basin will charge for uphill access. It previously was free outside of operating hours, though skiers and snowboarders were required to obtain a free uphill pass.

In a post on his blog. A-Basin Chief Operating Officer Alan Henceroth expounded on how the dramatic increase in popularity of skinning and hiking uphill in recent years has affected the Basin. Henceroth wrote about how the ski area introduced a more formalized program in recent years that required users to obtain a free uphill access pass.

— Antonio Olivero


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