If you’ve been around the Colorado scene for a while, you already know the name Cole Brantner. Cole’s the kind of rider who’s never needed a spotlight — his work speaks for itself. Whether he’s inside the snowcat, rake in his hand, or launching off a jump he built, Cole’s been about one thing: building and riding for the love of it.
For Cole, it’s never been about the title, but if anyone deserves Terrain Park Specialist of the Year, it’s him. From the early days riding with Snow Pirates and helping print shit in the basement, to shaping some of Colorado’s best park features, Cole’s always stayed true to his mission — keep it creative, keep it real, and give back to the riders.
Hailing from Wisconsin, Cole cut his teeth at Granite Peak, a Midwest park scene known for breeding riders who live for this shit. But what stood out most to him as a kid wasn’t just the jumps or the rails — it was the snowcats. “One day, I’m gonna run one of those.”
Fast-forward a few years, and Cole made it happen. Like a lot of Midwest riders chasing bigger mountains, he packed up his truck, pointed it west, and landed in Colorado. He started at Arapahoe Basin, grinding long hours, learning the mountain, and figuring out how to break into the cat crew — the dream job. From there, he moved on to Keystone A51 park crew, and eventually earned his spot behind the sticks, pushing snow and shaping features that riders actually want to hit.
Last year, Cole took things up a notch at Woodward Eldora. He didn’t just show up — he built it. Cole led some of the biggest park projects of the season. The result? A setup that’s been a game-changer for the local scene. His Eldora team credits him with bringing new life and creativity to the park — but anyone who knows Cole knows that’s just how he works.
He’s not the kind of guy who builds from a distance either. Cole rides everything he shapes. He tests the flow, tweaks the angles, and takes feedback from the community seriously. His approach keeps things fresh.
Ask anyone who’s seen him work: Cole’s got precision that only comes from living it. He’ll spend hours in the cat after dark, headlights cutting through the snow, country music playing, mountain quiet. Just him, a rake, and a feature he’s perfecting for someone else to enjoy the next day. That’s what it’s about for him — using his hands and tools to create something other will enjoy.
So if you’re looking to congratulate him, don’t bother sending an email or tagging him online. Just head to Eldora. You’ll find him out there, bundled up, perched in the cat, grinning under the glow of the cab lights — still pushing snow, still riding what he builds, and still making sure the park feels like home.
Good shit, Cole. You earned it.
