The Opie and Dopey Show

Since 1981, two little rubber dolls named Opie and Dopey have become unlikely ambassadors for ski and snowboard safety in Summit County, carrying their message to elementary school children across the county. The Opie and Dopey Show is an interactive multimedia session featuring a slide show and music. And, according to the kids—”It rocks!”

During the winter of 1981, my friend and fellow patroller, Jim Moloney, and I saw a lot of local kids getting injured at Breckenridge. The kids appeared to be acting recklessly without regard for themselves or others on the mountain. We decided that the best way to address this problem would be an educational program, so we submitted a proposal to Kevin Ahern, the ski patrol director, who agreed that the idea had some merit. Jim and I then prepared a list with some of the content information that we felt would be beneficial to the kids and we performed a rough version of the show before Breckenridge’s upper management. Although neither Jim nor I were proficient or comfortable public speakers, our content was strong enough to be endorsed by management and a program was born that season.