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Arapahoe Basin, Loveland Openings Launch 2018-19 Colorado Ski Season

A-Basin First Ski Area to Open Continuously for the 2018-19 Season in the United States

A-Basin Opening Day Banner Colorado Ski Country Jack Dempsey

Click here for 15-second opening day banner drop video: bit.ly/OpeningDayBanner.
Click here for B-Roll and interviews: bit.ly/OpeningDayB-Roll.
Click here for high res photos: bit.ly/OpeningDayPhotos.

The 2018-19 ski season is underway in Colorado with a high energy crowd of skiers and snowboarders celebrating the opening of Arapahoe Basin Ski Area. At 9 a.m., the Black Mountain Express lift began spinning, delivering skiers and riders to the intermediate High Noon trail with an 18-inch base of packed powder.

Colorado ski areas across the state have received significant early season snowfall this October, which allowed Wolf Creek Ski Area in southwest Colorado to open for weekend skiing and riding last weekend, while several other ski areas have taken advantage of the conditions to begin snowmaking. Loveland Ski Area, on the other side of the Continental Divide from A-Basin, will open for the season tomorrow, Saturday, October 20, with its new high-speed lift Chet’s Dream.

Colorado Ski Country USA (CSCUSA) member resorts have spent the spring, summer and fall working on major upgrades to the Colorado skiing and snowboarding experience. New for the 2018-19 season, Colorado will welcome six new chairlifts at five ski areas across the state, six new dining experiences and two terrain expansions, including the new Beavers Lift and terrain expansion at Arapahoe Basin. Opening day signals the start of another world-class winter in Colorado, where life-long skiers, new participants and those looking to enjoy the mountain environment can enjoy Colorado’s consistently great winter conditions, bluebird skies and warm welcome.

“The early season snowfall has created momentum and excitement for the opening of the ski season here in Colorado,” said CSCUSA President and CEO Melanie Mills. “A lot of hard work has gone into this day, and it’s an honor to celebrate with the snowmakers, groomers and operations crews who made it happen. After months of hard work and millions of dollars of investment in the guest experience, Colorado is ready to welcome skiers, snowboarders and guests to our ski areas, whether they’re long-time Colorado skiers or first-time visitors. Winter has arrived in the Colorado mountains and it’s great to see winter sports enthusiasts out in force!”

The race to host Opening Day is a highlight of the early ski season, a title often held by either Arapahoe Basin or Loveland Ski Area. Both resorts are perched atop the Continental Divide, which provides higher elevations, earlier frosts, and colder temperatures, allowing them to stay open long into the spring, giving Colorado one of the longest ski seasons in the country.

Below is a current list of scheduled opening dates for CSCUSA member resorts*.

 

Listed by Resort Name:

Arapahoe Basin:                                    October 19, 2018 – Early June 2019

Aspen Highlands                                   December 8, 2018 – April 14, 2019

Aspen Mountain                                    November 22, 2018 – April 21, 2019

Buttermilk                                             December 8, 2018 – April 7, 2019

Cooper                                                 December 8, 2018 – April 7, 2019

Copper Mountain                                   November 16, 2018 – April 21, 2019

Echo Mountain                                      November 23, 2018 – April 14, 2019

Eldora                                                   November 16, 2018 – April 14, 2019

Granby Ranch                                       December 14, 2018 – March 31, 2019

Hesperus                                              December 21, 2018 – TBD

Howelsen Hill                                        November 24, 2018 – March 10, 2019

Loveland                                               October 20, 2018 – May 5, 2019

Monarch                                               November 21, 2018 – April 7, 2019

Powderhorn                                          December 14, 2018 – March 31, 2019

Purgatory                                              November 17, 2018 – April 14, 2019

Silverton                                               November 24, 2018 – April 14, 2019

Snowmass                                            November 22, 2018 – April 21, 2019

Steamboat                                            November 21, 2018 – April 14, 2019

Sunlight                                                December 14, 2018 – April 7, 2019

Telluride                                                November 22, 2018 – April 7, 2019

Winter Park                                           November 14, 2018 – May 3, 2019

Wolf Creek                                            November 2, 2018 – April 7, 2019 (Opened October 13, 2018 for weekends only)

 

 

Listed by Opening Date:                     

October 13                                            Wolf Creek (Opened October 13, 2018 for weekends only)

October 19                                            Arapahoe Basin

October 20                                            Loveland

November 14                                        Winter Park

November 16                                        Copper Mountain

November 16                                        Eldora

November 17                                        Purgatory

November 21                                        Monarch

November 21                                        Steamboat

November 22                                        Aspen Mountain

November 22                                        Snowmass

November 22                                        Telluride

November 23                                        Echo Mountain

November 24                                        Howelsen Hill

November 24                                        Silverton

December 7                                          Kendall Mountain

December 8                                          Aspen Highlands

December 8                                          Buttermilk

December 8                                          Cooper

December 14                                        Sunlight

December 14                                        Granby Ranch

December 14                                        Powderhorn

December 21                                        Hesperus

 

*Dates are subject to change.