In the short-term, the pandemic was viewed as a major spoiler for this year’s Ouray Ice Festival, a buzzkill for an event thriving on throngs of people piling into the Uncompahgre Gorge to cheer on the sport’s elite athletes, testing climbing gear and partying late into the night.

In the long-term, the creative adaptations necessitated by COVID-19 could prove to be boon for the sport — and for Ouray’s winter’s economy.

Organizers of the annual festival, conducted virtually with no specta...