Arapahoe Basin opens first, beating rivals to start Colorado ski season

Arapahoe Basin started its first chairlift at 10:15 a.m. Wednesday, claiming the title of the first ski resort to open in Colorado.

The mountain beat its long-time rivals, Keystone and Loveland, to the start of the season. Alan Henceroth, the resort’s chief operating officer, made the final call to open less than 24 hours earlier. Staff had been tracking snow volume closely and using snowcats to push snow into place on the slopes.

Henceroth stood at the lift line Wednesday morning, greeting skiers as they arrived. He said the decision to open came when the snowmaking team, cat drivers, and lift crew confirmed they were ready. The resort had planned to announce the opening at 7:30 a.m., telling guests the lifts would start at 11 a.m. They began running about 30 minutes early because people were already waiting in line.

Owen Melson, a Silverthorne resident, received the opening call at 9 a.m. He rushed to Lowe’s to buy a grill and then to City Market for food. By 10:15 a.m., he was serving free breakfast sandwiches at the base. He had only two days’ notice, but he said he would have done the same regardless.

The race to open first has been a local tradition since the 1980s. Keystone and Loveland dominated the title between 1982 and 2001, each winning 10 times. Arapahoe Basin installed its own snowmaking equipment in 2002 with approval from resort owners and the Army Corps of Engineers. Since then, A-Basin has been the first to open 14 times, surpassing the combined total of its competitors during that period.

Keystone and Loveland do not announce specific opening dates in advance, relying instead on the phrase "as soon as possible." This strategy builds excitement and keeps the competition tight. Shayna Silverman, Arapahoe Basin’s senior communications manager, noted that marketing teams are constantly contacted by eager skiers. She said the public is highly motivated to get on the hill after last year’s conditions.

Snowmaking operations began on Oct. 15 at both Arapahoe Basin and nearby Keystone. The initial snow was followed by a midweek warm-up that shut off the guns. Jacob Marquardt, communications manager for Keystone, described the process as part of the nature of making snow in October. The resorts rely on wet-bulb temperatures around 27 degrees to activate their equipment. Keystone uses 627 snow guns, while Arapahoe Basin operates 20 guns with a five-person staff.

Loveland uses a contractor team for snowmaking, many of whom are from New Zealand. They began work on Oct. 8 and are expected to stay through mid-December. Loryn Roberson, marketing director for Loveland, said the team cannot rush the opening. She expressed optimism for the season, citing pent-up demand after a record-low winter and a prolonged drought.

By noon Wednesday, Arapahoe Basin’s lower parking lot and base bar were full. Phil Lindeman from Krystal 93.9 radio played music and cooked bacon in a cast iron pan near the lift line. He told the crowd that being present on day one is essential to enjoying the season.

The official start of the North American ski season had arrived with the mountain fully operational and crowds filling the base area.