What's New
More than 170 skiers and snowboarders were left stranded after a ski lift in Colorado suffered a malfunction, leaving passengers suspended mid-air for what was roughly a five hour rescue operation.
According to reports from The Associated Press, the six year old gondola lift at Winter Park Resort, Colorado's longest continually operated ski resort, in the Rocky Mountains, shut down automatically just after noon on Saturday, having detected a crack in it's structural piece.
Newsweek contacted Winter Park Resort for comment via email.
Why It Matters
The incident comes at the start of a busy holiday season and in a state that sees millions of visitors flock to its slopes each year.
According to an announcement from Colorado Ski Country, Colorado saw a projected 14 million skier visits across the state for the 2023-2024 season.
For the Centennial State, business in its ski towns brings huge economic gains, with spending reaching record highs this past year. According to data obtained by The Colorado Sun that tracks net taxable sales in 18 small and large municipalities near ski areas, total spending from November through March reached $4.5 billion.
What to Know
Following the lifts automatic shutdown, ski patrollers set about rescuing each of the 174 passengers. Crews entered the cabin of each gondola from above and lowered people's equipment to the ground.
Ropes equipped with a seat were then used to hoist skiers and snowboarders safely down to the ground. No one was reported to be injured during the rescue operation.
At around 70 miles away, Winter Park Resort is the closest major ski resort to Denver and offers guests "more than 3,000 acres of skiable terrain of all kinds," according to its official website.
What People Are Saying
"Ski patrol has trained extensively for this," Winter Park Resort spokesperson Jen Miller told The Colorado Sun, noting that it was the first time the gondola, which opened around Christmas 2018, had been evacuated.
"We are working with the (Colorado Passenger Tramway Safety Board), the manufacturer, all of the authorities," Miller told The Colorado Sun. "The gondola did what it was designed to do and once the malfunction happened, it stopped."
What Happens Next
The lift's manufacturer along with resort officials began an investigation Sunday into what led to the crack, and work is already underway to replace the damaged section of the lift, although it is unknown how long the lift will be closed for.
A total of 21 other lifts remain in operation across the resort.
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