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Peace Park Laps and a Free-Beer Hunt: Copper Mountain and Breckenridge in 2019/20

SkiBuds

Two riders take a selfie on a chairlift at Copper Mountain, one in a SkiBuds helmet and orange goggles, the other in a red jacket, with pines and snowy peaks behind.

The SkiBuds crew spent the 2019/20 season in Summit County, Colorado, and two mountains came up again and again in the Instagram account's posts: Copper Mountain and Breckenridge. Copper was where the account went for park laps and quick afternoon sessions. Breck was where it ran a free-beer hunt and met new riders. Our story of the wider Colorado season covers the whole season, from Vail and Keystone to Steamboat. This one stays in Summit County, using the posts and the dates they were published.

Opening weekends and a rescued hat

The season at Breck began on November 8, 2019, with a photo from a gondola cabin captioned “Opening day at breck.” Later that day the account posted a rider in a yellow hoodie holding a SkiBuds hat: “Here's a shot of a skibud rescuing a skibuds hat. Pun intended for sure.” A clip the next day added: “Opening day at Breckenridge ski resort. Carving up some groomers.”

A snowboarder in a yellow hoodie and pink pants rides toward the camera holding up a blue SkiBuds beanie, with pines and blue sky behind.
“A skibud rescuing a skibuds hat.” Breckenridge, November 8, 2019.

Copper's turn came the same weekend. On the morning of November 9: “Opening weekend at copper! Let's see what the day brings!” By November 10 the account reported “Skibuds getting it at copper all weekend!” By early December, Copper had become the place for a few laps at short notice. On December 1 the account posted a story from a chairlift: “Solid day at vail and copper. First epic ikon combo day of the year.” The next morning it asked, “anyone wanna hit copper this afternoon?” About an hour later came another story: “I was gonna stay in and work and then this happened. See you soon copper.”

A post like that is the simplest way to find someone to ride with. Name the mountain and the time, and ask.

Free beer on Breck, if you could find it

On December 8, 2019 the account tried something different. A story posted that afternoon read: “Free beer on Breck if you find it. Download the app and ask for clues if you need them.” A second story, taken from inside a dark log shelter looking out at snowy trees, added: “Come find us... free beer.”

View from inside a dark log shelter, out through its doorway to a snowy bank, cut logs and tall pine trunks.
“Come find us... free beer.” From a December 8, 2019 story.

The posts do not say who found it, but a hunt gives strangers a reason to message each other and a reason to meet in person. If you borrow it, keep the prize easy to share and make it something anyone can enjoy, like a coffee, a soda or a sticker pack. Hide it in a spot that is easy to reach from a marked run, and save any drinks for after the last run, when nobody still has to drive down. Check resort rules before leaving anything on the mountain.

That evening another story called the snow “Nuking” and asked where everyone was riding the next day. A story early on December 9 said: “gonna be a fun day today, catch the SkiBuds crew at breck,” and a clip later that morning was captioned “Fresh pow on Breck!!!” On December 24 the account looked back on the “first big powder day of the year at Breckenridge. Was a super deep day and we rolled with a crew.”

Over the holidays Breck also gave the account one of its lighter moments. On December 27, 2019 a video tagged Breckenridge was captioned: “When your friends convince you to put skis on for the first time.” Another the same day was simply “Making it rain Skibuds stickers!!!” Our guide to skiing with friends of different abilities covers how to plan that kind of day.

Peace Park at Copper

In January, Copper's new terrain park took over several posts. On January 2, 2020 a story read “COPPER MINI POW DAY.” On January 7 the account shared a photo of a rider grabbing the tail of their board in mid-air, a SkiBuds flag flying behind: “Peace park 2020.” The next evening the account announced it would be on the Jason and Benny Show on 107.9 KBPI the following morning, and said it would give “some updates on the new Peace Park at Copper,” along with snow conditions for the weekend.

A snowboarder with a blue SkiBuds flag on their back grabs the tail of the board in mid-air over a park jump, with tall pines behind.
“Peace park 2020.” Posted January 7, 2020, at Copper.

The post that best captures the season came on January 20, 2020. It is the chairlift selfie at the top of this story: “Met up with another shredder on the app today and hit peace park all day.” The post was tagged Copper and Peace Park. Park riders want company too: someone to watch a new trick, film a lap, or tell you that the landing is icy.

If you are looking for people to lap a park with, say so in your message. Name the feature size you like, whether you want to film, and how long you plan to stay.

A new SkiBudder at Breck

Between Copper park days, Breck kept producing meetups. On January 14, 2020 the account posted a sunny view across the valley: “Met up with a new SkiBudder today at Breck.”

View from a snowy slope at Breckenridge past dark pine trees to a wide valley and distant mountains under a blue sky with white clouds.
“Met up with a new SkiBudder today at Breck.” January 14, 2020.

Breck is a mountain where a vague plan can fail. Our Breckenridge guide explains that it spreads across Peaks 6 through 10, with three main arrival areas at Peaks 7, 8 and 9, so name the peak, the base and a building.

Woodward and the Dew Tour push

In early February the posts turned to the event season. On February 4, 2020 the account shared a snowskate clip of a SkiBuds “shredder of the day” with @woodwardcopper. On February 5, during a week at Jackson Hole, it announced the plan: “Hmu if you wanna rage at dew tour. Will have plenty of swag. Let's get some flags out and get rowdy.” Leaving Jackson the next morning, it posted that it was “off to spread the word about SkiBuds at dew tour. If anyone wants to help me out this weekend and wave a flag please let me know.”

A grinning rider in a sticker-covered SkiBuds helmet and purple goggles holds a SkiBuds flag beside two smiling people, one in a teal jacket and radio harness, on a sunny slope, with snowy pines behind.
“SkiBuds shredders of the day.” Posted February 9, 2020, at Copper.

On February 9 the account posted the photo above, tagged Copper and Dew Tour: “SkiBuds shredders of the day.” Asking for help gives people a reason to show up, and a weekend of waving flags together is an easy way to make friends.

5,000 users at Copper and hidden gems at Breck

Late February brought one of the season's best days. On February 24, 2020, with a selfie of three riders in a covered chairlift, the account posted: “Top 3 days of the season for sure. Super deep, no people, and got to explore some new spots. Awesome to meet up with [a rider] on SkiBuds for some awesome tree runs. Top it off SkiBuds hit 5,000 users today.” The caption does not name the mountain, but the post's location points to Copper, the same spot as the Peace Park posts.

Three riders in goggles and helmets smile for a selfie inside a chairlift with a blue bubble cover, with snowy trees outside.
“Top 3 days of the season for sure.” February 24, 2020.

The next day was at Breck: “Not gonna lie breck was actually on point today. Safe to say I think I know some hidden gems.” Months later, in June 2020, the account was still posting Summit County throwbacks, including a photo of four riders in deep snow captioned “Copper pow day!”

How to meet riders at Copper and Breckenridge

  • At Copper, name the village. Our Copper Mountain guide notes that Copper has East, Center and West villages. Name the village first, then a specific landmark. A rental shop name alone may not identify the right location.
  • Use Copper's layout for mixed groups. Copper's terrain runs from easier skiing in the west to more advanced terrain in the east. A mixed group can take different laps and meet again at a named base area. Adult lesson check-in shifts between Center and West Village during the season, so check the booking before choosing a reunion point.
  • At Breck, name the peak, base and building. Peaks 8 and 9 have learning terrain, Peak 7 starts at intermediate level, and Peak 6 has higher alpine routes.
  • Agree on park manners before the first lap. Look before you drop in, let others know when you are going, never stop in a landing, and start on features everyone in the group is comfortable with. Check which parks are open on the day.
  • Make a meetup into a game. A hunt with clues, a flag to find or a sticker handoff gives strangers an easy reason to say hello.
  • Keep it safe. Meet in public, tell someone your plans and share the drive when you can. Our ski buddy meetup checklist and ski carpool planning guide cover the details.

When a storm is on the way, our guide to planning a powder day with friends helps. More resorts are listed under Colorado ski resorts.

Questions riders ask

How do I find someone to ride the terrain park with?

Ask for it directly. Post in a local group or app with the mountain, the day and the kind of park riding you want, whether that is small jumps, rails or filming. Our guide on finding snowboard friends covers where park riders gather.

Is Copper or Breckenridge easier for a group with mixed abilities?

Both can work. At Copper, the west-to-east layout makes it easy to describe terrain by ability, from easier runs to the west to more advanced terrain to the east. At Breck, Peaks 8 and 9 have learning terrain and Peak 7 starts at intermediate level. Either way, start with a lap that suits the least experienced rider.

Where should I meet a new ski buddy at Breckenridge?

Choose a named building at a specific base, not just “the gondola” or “the base.” Peak 9 is closest to downtown and includes the Village and Beaver Run bases, while Peak 8 has the main Ski and Ride School facilities. A group starting at different bases needs a clear plan to meet up.

Photos and quotations come from posts and stories on the SkiBuds Instagram account between November 2019 and June 2020. Dates are the dates the posts were published. Resort details come from the SkiBuds resort guides; check current conditions and open terrain before you go.