SUMMIT COUNTY, Colo. — The early winter storm that blanketed Colorado with a healthy amount of snow made it perfect for opening day at Arapahoe Basin Ski Area Sunday morning.
Black Mountain Express started spinning at 8:30 a.m., servicing High Noon.
Skiers started showing up hours, even days before the lift started turning, full of excitement for the start of another winter season.
"I think A-Bay is more of a place where people that are really lifelong skiers [come] to feel at home," Lily Sachs, who drove from Boulder, said.
The ski area is limiting the sale of unrestricted season passes and packs, and limiting daily lift ticket sales. Full-season passes have sold out. A-Basin said its aim is to manage crowds and preserve a quality ski and ride experience.
"We offer big mountain ski and riding with a small and friendly base area. So it feels like a very real and authentic place to be and it's why people want to come up and ski...it's why they come and hang out here for opening day with just one run open," Shayna Silverman, communications manager at Arapahoe Basin Ski Area, said.
A-Basin had a big celebration for opening day, which included a Halloween band and costume contest in the base area.
It became the first Colorado ski area to open for the season. Here are opening dates for other Colorado ski resorts:
Breckenridge November 10
Vail Resorts November 10
Copper Mountain November 13
Eldora November 17
A-Basin posted a list of upcoming events on their website, where you can also find their schedule and ticket information.
