Recycling Skis—Telluride Style

Anton Viditz-Ward welds Telluride's holiday ski tree. Photo by Brett Schreckengost.
Anton Viditz-Ward welds Telluride’s holiday ski tree. Photo by Brett Schreckengost.

You know those old, straight, extremely long skis you have in your basement? Light ’em up, Telluride style. This year marks the start of a new tradition and a nod to an old tradition: On Dec. 6 Telluride will light up its first-ever “ski tree,” a holiday tree fabricated by local artist/welder Anton Viditz-Ward made of old skis; after the tree lighting, there will be a ski bonfire to honor Ullr, the Norse god and patron saint of skiers. The festivities take place in Elks Park from 6-8 p.m.
I’ve been to plenty of ski bonfires where old skis were tossed in the pile, but that tradition hails from a time before epoxy and fiberglass and P-tex…the fumes from what now are “old” skis can be a little overwhelming. The best way to recycle skis these days is to donate to the Telluride tree or find some Pinterest design to make a bench or seat out of them.
There are lots of pre-holiday celebrations this month in Telluride. Don’t miss these events:
Dec. 4: Noel Night (discounts and cheer at Telluride retail shops)
Dec. 6-8: Telluride Arts Holiday Bazaar
Dec. 6: Ski Tree Lighting and Ullr’s Ceremonial Ski Burn (free hot chocolate and DJ music provided by Telluride Ski & Golf Resort)
Dec. 8: Old Fashioned Christmas at Schmid Ranch (horse-drawn sleighs, hot chocolate, tree cutting)
Dec. 14: Holiday Art Walk (a special holiday version of the monthly gallery walk)
Dec. 13-15: Mountain Village Winter Fest (free ice skating and hot chocolate, tree lighting, discounts and specials at Mountain Village restaurants and retailers)

*There will also be holiday cookie decorating and card making at the library, a pub crawl by bikes, and an ice skating party. For more details, check out the Telluride Watch‘s Holiday Prelude.