The Telluride Ski Tree is a 17-foot tall holiday tree made out of old community donated skis with a starburst of ski poles on top. The first in the world!
The Telluride Ski Tree, a sculptural endeavor created in 2013 in conjunction with local metal artist Anton Viditz-Ward, is a one-of-a-kind holiday installation in Elks Park across the street from the San Miguel County Courthouse. Perhaps you’ve seen the Lobster Trap Tree in Kennebunkport, Maine? It’s quite a spectacle and people come in from all over to see it year after year. To our knowledge, there is no other Ski Tree serving as the holiday embodiment of a mountain community’s culture. It’s a celebration of snowsports and what makes Telluride funky and in this case, first, through a prism of artistic and communal representation. Communal? Yes! All the skis (and the poles that make up the starburst topper) were donated by locals. The concept is the epitome of upcycling. Hence, for 2014, the Ski Tree has grown five feet taller! To add to the fun, the Ski Tree’s first-time presence in December of 2013 has put Telluride in the Top 25 Best Towns for the 2014 Holidays according to Travel and Leisure Magazine!
The Ski Tree Lighting and Ceremonial Ski Burn scheduled for Saturday, December 6, from 5:30-7:30pm, is a festive collaboration of the Telluride Merchants Association, the Town of Telluride, the Town of Mountain Village, the Telluride Tourism Board, and the Telluride Ski Resort. It’s the first weekend anchor event of the 3rd Annual Telluride Holiday Prelude. Regional folks of all ages to Telluride and Mountain Village are invited to enjoy holiday shopping and myriad activities in the 2-week stretch after the enormously well-attended and traditional Noel Night (12/3/14) Ski & Stay specials are being offered, check out lodging the evolving schedule of events at http://www.visittelluride.com/holidayprelude !
