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Colorado Ski Areas & Vail Resorts Land Three Sustainability Awards

Representatives bring home kudos from the NSAA National Convention and Tradeshow

By Beth Buehler

The National Ski Areas Association presented its Golden Eagle Awards for Environmental Excellence in May at the 2023 NSAA National Convention and Tradeshow in Savannah, Georgia. Established in 1993, these awards are the highest honors bestowed on resorts for environmental performance. Two Colorado ski areas and Vail Resorts landed three of the five sustainability awards presented.

NSAA National Convention 2023 Golden Eagle Awards
All the award winners || Photo by Dave Camara/Division One Photography

Broomfield-based Vail Resorts, operator of 37 destination mountain resorts and regional ski areas (including five in Colorado), came home with the Climate Change Impact Award. Vail Resorts received the award for achieving 100% renewable electricity in North America and 96% enterprise-wide, including global resorts.

Tim Baker, vice president/COO East Region, Vail Resorts || Photo by Dave Camara/Division One Photography

Arapahoe Basin (A-Basin) was presented the Community & Partnerships award and is a founding member of NSAA’s Climate Challenge and the Sustainable Slopes Charter. Staff serving on the A-Basin sustainability team hold key positions on several nonprofit boards; town, county, and state advisory groups; and task forces. The team has contributed to or hosted sustainability panels, podcasts, and events. In addition, A-Basin has testified on Capitol Hill in support of climate solutions.

Jeff Grasser leads the Copper Mountain sustainability team and is the founder of the collaborative Copper Conservation Summit that takes place annually. Recognized as a Hero of Sustainability by NSAA, Grasser also spearheaded a groundbreaking study on carbon sequestration, helped create Copper’s native seed collection project that has collected over 100,000 native species seeds to be replanted on the ski area’ slopes, and much more.

NSAA National Convention 2023 - Mike Nathan, sustainability manager, Arapahoe Basin Ski Area
Mike Nathan, sustainability manager, Arapahoe Basin Ski Area || Photo by Dave Camara/Division One Photography

Congratulations to the Colorado ski areas and Vail Resorts for landing three sustainability awards from the National Ski Areas Association!

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