Earliest season start on record in the USA

Wed 07 October 09

Over in Europe there isn't even the hint that a new season becons, but over in the USA the new winter season has just started with Las Vegas being one of the first resorts to open in what is the earliest start ever

There's always a bit of bun fight as to which resort will be the first to open. Usual suspects include A-basin in Colorado, but this year there's a new face in town.

Loveland Ski Area became the first resort in the country to open this season. It's all man-made and with only 1 lift and 1 run open, so don't book that flight just yet

Sunday evening marked the earliest snowmaking ever at Las Vegas Ski & Snowboard Resort. As a cold front blew through the region, overnight temperatures at the ski area dropped down to 20 degrees. LVSSR‘s snowmaking crew was prepared to take full advantage of the cold snap, utilizing 9 guns throughout the night blowing snow into the early morning.

Current snowmaking efforts are being focused on the beginner slope, Rabbit Peak, in an effort to build the snow base and open the resort for the 2009–2010 season, as soon as conditions allow.

“With cold air on the mountain, we expect to see good conditions for snowmaking through most of this week. Our snowmakers will keep a close eye on the weather and continue making snow whenever possible,” Craig Baldwin, Base Operations Manager. “Our goal is be the first ski area to open in the country!”

Arapahoe Basin ski area officials announce that its opening day for their 2009-2010 ski season will be Friday, October 9, 2009, the ski area’s earliest opening in history.

The Exhibition chairlift will open to the public at 9:00 a.m. Friday. Skiers and riders can look forward to an 18-inch base on the intermediate High Noon run and six features in the High Divide Terrain Park. There will be no beginner skiing.

Snowmaking at Loveland pass, A-basin 6th October 09
Photo: Kimberly Trembearth

Sun Valley got its first snowfall of the season with a 17inch dump and if things keep going the way they are, they will be changing the 26th November opening date

Aspen is still getting plenty of early snow, and here's the picture from the 5th October

Aspen Snow Independence Pass, 5th October 09
Photo: Jeremy Swanson

SNOWMASS SET FOR EARLY OPENING SAT 19/11/2011
Snowmass to Open with 160 Acres of Terrain Including the Big Burn. The lifts will fire up at 9 a.m. this Saturday, November 19 as Snowmass opens for the season five days earlier than scheduled. -20Nov11
A-Basin to open Top to Bottom
Arapahoe Basin will be expanding it's terrain to the summit for top to bottom riding on Wednesday, November 2 -1Nov11
First decent dump of the season in Colorado
The Colorado, USA resorts received their first proper sized dump of the season on Thursday, as opening day inches closer -7Oct11
First snow of the 2011/1 season in Colorado
Thursday 15th September saw the first snowfall of the anticipated new season -17Sep11
Mark McMorris lands backside triple cork 1440
The 17yr old Canadian landed the first ever backside triple cork 1440 in Aspen Snowmass last week. Check out this video. -8Mar11