A-Basin open
A-Basin open
At 8:30 a.m., October 13, with an 18-inch base, Arapahoe Basin became the first resort in North America to open for the 2013/14 ski season. The race to host Opening Day is one of the highlights of the ski season, a title often held by A-Basin or Loveland Ski Area, both resorts perched atop the Continental Divide giving them higher elevations, earlier frosts and colder temperatures. This location also allows them to stay open through spring each year.
So far it’s been prognosis positive for the impending ski season as high country snows began falling mid-September. Several resorts in Colorado have taken advantage of cold nighttime temps and ideal humidity over the past several weeks to fire up their snow guns and lay down a base. A-Basin, Loveland, Keystone and Copper Mountain began making snow around Sept. 27 and have made snow and/or received natural snow most days since then.
Snowmaking equipment upgrades, ideal snowmaking conditions and natural snowfall added to The Basin’s base accumulation, which hundreds from Colorado’s Front Range and mountain communities came out to celebrate. While not the earliest opening in recent memory, it is the best early season conditions in three seasons.
Colorado Ski Country USA (CSCUSA) said the opening brings optimism for the season ahead.
“Seeing skiers and snowboarders taking their first turns of the season is one of the highlights of the year,” said Colorado Ski Country USA President and CEO Melanie Mills. “Since the first high country snowstorms several weeks ago, we’ve seen the enthusiasm in skiers and snowboarders building toward this day. Thanks to helpful weather patterns and the hard work of snowmakers and groomers, all of Colorado’s resorts will open with top notch products our guests will enjoy.”
Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper congratulated A-Basin on being first to open. “It’s still fall but the 2013/14 ski and snowboard season is open for business in Colorado,” he said. “Tourism and recreation are some of our most visible and important industries in Colorado, not to mention key economic drivers, and with today’s grand opening we are looking forward to a fun-filled and snowy year on the slopes.”
- Oct. 13: Arapahoe Basin
Mid October: Loveland
Nov. 1: Copper Mountain
Nov. 8: Wolf Creek
Nov.13: Winter Park
Nov.22: Eldora
Nov.27: Crested Butte, Steamboat
Nov.28: Aspen Mountain, Snowmass, Telluride
Nov.29: Purgatory
Nov. 30: Howelsen Hill
Dec.6: Sunlight
Dec.11: Ski Granby Ranch
Dec.12: Powderhorn
Dec.14: Aspen Highlands, Buttermilk, Ski Cooper
Dec. 21: Silverton
