Uphill Access at Loveland Ski Area officially opens Monday, January 12.

Please note: an Uphill Access Pass is required to access the mountain outside of operating hours. All uphill users must have a valid pass prior to heading uphill.

Be sure to purchase your Uphill Access Pass before going up. Passes can be purchased online at Uphill Skiing Access & Policies at Loveland | Loveland Ski Area

Some stories at Loveland Ski Area come full circle — and Hanna’s is one of them.

Hanna Combrink is now in her 6th season at Loveland Ski Area, working on the top floor of the Loveland Sport Shop, a place that has been part of the mountain for decades. Last week, we featured the downstairs Adventure Center — this episode takes you upstairs, where Hanna helps keep one of the most respected on-mountain sport shops in North America running day in and day out. The Loveland Sport Shop has earned multiple gold medals from Ski Magazine and national recognition over the years, but what truly makes it special are the people behind the counter.

Hanna grew up right here in Clear Creek County, racing for the Clear Creek Middle School Ski Team at Loveland Ski Area as a kid. Long before she worked in the shop herself, she was watching her mom do the same kind of work — helping skiers and riders — in the Winter Park Sport Shop & Ski School. Now, years later, Hanna carries on that legacy, turning a childhood spent around base areas and ski shops into a career rooted in care, pride, and connection.

While studying geology at Red Rocks Community College, Hanna brings her passion for the environment and the outdoors into everything she does. From keeping the shelves dialed and the shop moving during the busiest days to taking the time to truly listen to guests and support her team, Hanna plays a key role in making sure the Loveland Sport Shop runs smoothly from open to close.

Behind the goggles, Hanna represents generations of mountain families, the love passed down from parent to child, and the quiet dedication that keeps this place special. This is more than a job. This is home.

Born and raised in Southern Vermont, Colby Ameden grew up with skis on his feet and racing gates as a kid, chasing speed, snow, and that feeling only skiing can give you. After college, the mountains kept calling—so Colby followed the snow west to Colorado, landing at Loveland Ski Area and finding his place downstairs in the Loveland Sport Shop at the Loveland Adventure Center. Now in his 12th season at Loveland, Colby has become a familiar and trusted face for guests starting their day on the mountain.

But this episode isn’t just about where Colby’s been—it’s about who he is on the mountain. Colby brings his heart, his passion for skiing, and his genuine love for the sport to every guest he helps. Whether it’s a first-timer getting geared up or a seasoned skier fine-tuning their setup, Colby treats every customer like a friend, making sure they feel confident, welcomed, and ready for an unforgettable day on the hill.

Behind the goggles, Colby is the kind of person who reminds us why we ski in the first place—for the joy, the connection, and the people who make the mountain feel like home.

The Man Behind the Native American Flute

When you ski at Loveland, you don’t just hear the wind carving over the Continental Divide—you might also hear the soft, soulful voice of a Native American flute drifting across the slopes. Follow that sound and you’ll usually find Dennis Velasquez, longtime instructor, musician, and a living piece of Loveland Ski Area’s heart and history.

A proud member of the Navajo Nation, Dennis carries his heritage with him every day on the mountain. His flute is more than an instrument; it’s a connection to culture, tradition, and the landscapes that inspire him. Whether he’s greeting the sunrise outside the lodge or offering a peaceful melody from one of our mountain cabins, Dennis shares his music the same way he shares his teaching—with generosity, intention, and joy.

Dennis joined the Loveland Ski & Ride School in 1991, and for more than three decades he has introduced countless students to the magic of sliding on snow. Known for his patience, his laugh, and an uncanny ability to calm even the most nervous first-timer, Dennis teaches with the same rhythm and flow he brings to his music.

To the Loveland community, he’s more than an instructor. He’s a storyteller. A tradition-keeper. A mountain ambassador. And the soundtrack of the ski area itself.

So when you see him on the slopes—goggles on, smile wide—and later hear his flute echoing through a warm lodge or quiet cabin, you’re not just witnessing a ski instructor at work.

You’re watching a legacy unfold.