SAM Magazine—Telluride, Colo., Dec. 26, 2025—After months of contract negotiations, the Telluride Professional Ski Patrol Association (TPSPA) authorized a Dec. 27 strike. In response, Telluride Ski and Golf Resort (TSG/Teleski) has said it will close operations Dec. 27 with no clear timeline for reopening.

“At this time, we do not know how long the strike will last,” the resort said in a Dec. 24 statement. “We will continue working on a plan that allows us to reopen safely as soon as possible.”

The resort said the closure is “a result of the Ski Patrol’s decision to strike.”

In a statement on Dec. 26, the union accused resort ownership of failing to prepare contingency plans and said the closure would negatively affect employees, guests, and the broader community. “The Ski Patrol did not make any decision to close this mountain,” said TPSPA. “That is not, and has never been, our decision to make. … It is with great consternation that we are arriving at this inflection point.”

Negotiations for a new labor contract have dragged on since June, and the patrol has been working without a contract since its last one expired Aug. 31. On Dec. 8, patrollers voted down the resort’s “last, best and final offer.” Negotiations stalled completely in the aftermath, but appeared set to resume ahead of the holiday. 

According to TPSPA, in the last three weeks, the patrol has moved significantly to try to reach an agreement, dropping its healthcare and gear stipend stipulations and decreasing its wage ask. The resort, TPSPA said, resubmitted the previously rejected Dec. 8 offer, which did not include any changes.

A detailed social media post explaining how TPSPA arrived at its decision to strike alleges that the union and the resort are currently about $64,000 apart, a figure the union said “is so small for the company and would mean the world for the longevity of this patrol.”

Ahead of the strike, TPSPA said, “we have exhausted every idea to avert this situation, and we compromised below our comfort level and bottom line to move the conversation forward in good faith.” 

The resort has not responded directly to the union’s claims. 

In a Dec. 24 social media post, Telluride outlined refund information “for guests materially impacted by the ski patrol work stoppage and closure.”

“We recognize the disruption this situation has caused and sincerely appreciate your patience and understanding,” said the resort.