Our Story Begins 2 Miles High

About Us

Founded in 1989, Cloud City Ski Club was created to give young people in Leadville the opportunity to experience the mountains through Alpine and Nordic skiing. What began as a small, community-driven program quickly became an important part of local life, built by passionate volunteers, coaches, and families who believed every child should have access to mountain sports regardless of background or financial circumstances.

Early leaders such as Jeff Maddex and Don Quinn helped shape the foundation of the organization. Don Quinn’s impact on Nordic skiing in particular left a lasting legacy, mentoring generations of athletes and helping develop numerous Colorado State Champions and All-Americans. More importantly, the program gave local youth a sense of belonging, discipline, confidence, and connection to the outdoors.

As the years passed, the Nordic and Alpine programs eventually operated separately, while Cloud City continued to focus primarily on Alpine racing. In 2019, the programs were reunited under one vision: creating a stronger, more connected mountain sports community where young athletes and families could access multiple disciplines through one supportive organization.

In 2020, Cloud City Mountain Sports was formed to carry that mission forward into a new generation.

Today, CCMS provides year-round opportunities for youth across Lake and Chaffee Counties through Alpine skiing, Nordic skiing, snowboarding, and mountain biking programs. Our focus extends far beyond competition. We strive to create an environment where every athlete feels supported, challenged, and included — whether they are stepping into skis for the first time or pursuing competitive goals at a high level.

Access and affordability remain at the heart of what we do. Through scholarships, reduced-cost programming, equipment support, and community partnerships, we work to remove financial barriers that often prevent local families from participating in outdoor sports. We believe every child deserves the opportunity to build confidence, friendships, leadership skills, and a lifelong love for the mountains they call home.

More than three decades after its founding, Cloud City Mountain Sports continues to grow while staying rooted in the same community spirit that started it all — helping local youth thrive both on and off the mountain.

❊ Community Partners ❊

Our Sponsors and Champions

Supporting Our Mission

Cloud City Mountain Sports is made possible through the generosity of local businesses, community partners, foundations, and individual donors. Their support helps provide affordable access to outdoor sports, scholarships for local athletes, quality coaching, equipment, and year-round programming for youth in Lake and Chaffee Counties.

Last season, CCMS served approximately 190 athletes through Nordic skiing, Alpine skiing, Snowboarding, and Mountain Biking programs. Support from sponsors and donors helped provide scholarships, equipment access, coaching, and outdoor opportunities for youth throughout our community.

Every sponsorship and donation helps ensure that financial barriers do not prevent young athletes from experiencing the lifelong benefits of outdoor recreation, teamwork, and personal growth.

Thank You to Our Sponsors & Donors

We are proud to partner with organizations and individuals who share our commitment to youth development and outdoor access.

Our Premier Sponsor


Taco Bell of Colorado
Taco Bell Corporation is a leading community supporter, helping make greater access to youth mountain sports possible. Their generosity extends far beyond CCMS, with a continued commitment to supporting communities across Colorado. Through fundraising for youth scholarships and support for a variety of local organizations, Taco Bell Corporation consistently invests in creating opportunities for young people and strengthening the communities it serves. We are incredibly grateful for their generous support of CCMS and proud to have them as a valued partner in our mission.

Premier Partners

Lifetime Inc.

Ti Amo

Ski Cooper

Copper Resort

Colorado Mountain College

Grant Partners

Summit Foundation

Lake County Community Fund

Community Sponsors

Aspen Traders

Before & After                                                                  

Blue Flower Candies and Provisions

Blue Earth Yoga and Salon

City on a Hill

Community Threads

Copper Mountain

Cycles of Life

Delaware Hotel

Dragonfly Gardening

Elks Club

Epic Promise

Fire on the Mountain

Galena

HarperRose

Hello Fern Creations

High Mountain Pies

Leadville Tattoo Shop

Leadville Outdoors

Marley Seifert

Martha Jane Sewing

Melanzana

Mount Massive Liquors

Rocky Top Toy Store

Silver Llama

The Famous

Vail Resorts

Quincys

Individual Donors

Thank you to the many individuals and families who support our mission.

Become a Sponsor

When you support Cloud City Mountain Sports, you are investing directly in local youth and helping create opportunities for the next generation of athletes, leaders, and outdoor enthusiasts.

Sponsorship opportunities include:

  • Program sponsorships

  • Event sponsorships

  • Scholarship support

  • Equipment and in-kind donations

  • General operating support

For sponsorship information, contact:
Sher Batz, Executive Director
Sherri@cloudcitymountainsports.org
(703) 869-9260