A little-known competition that began between a handful of ski resorts has made its way to North America's ski resorts. Resort owners and their marketing teams have created a bit of competition among the world's ski resorts. The first competition of the year is quickly becoming one to see who is ready to open first.
Resort employees focus on quality work and snowmaking first. The first ski area openings always generate a lot of buzz around the winter sport loving community.
Which North American ski resort was the first to open for the 2008-2009 ski season? Arapahoe Basin and Loveland, both in Colorado, had been in close competition for several weeks. Each resort was preparing to open their doors before the other.
And the North American Winner Is
On October 15, 2008 both resorts opened on the same date and time. Early in the week Arapahoe Basin stated they would open on October 15 at 9 a.m. Mountain time. Loveland was also prepared to open and stated they would continue the race and open 30 minutes earlier at 8:30 a.m. Mountain time. Both resorts decided to call it a tie and open at the same time.
Several nights provided perfect below-freezing temperatures to start the snowmakers and a good base for the rest of the winter. "We're all very excited. We're champing at the bit," said spokeswoman Leigh Hierholzer.
Just days before the competition ended, Loveland's marketing and communications manager, Kathryn Johnson said, "We're getting close. We have been making snow for two weeks now, but right now we don't have our 18-inch base."
Representatives of each resort admitted having a specific strategy and driving past the other to see progress. Kimberly Trembearth, marketing and interactive coordinator for Arapahoe Basin, said, "We might drive over the pass and have a look at what (Loveland) is doing." John Sellers, director of marketing for Loveland, shared a similar poker strategy, "I may drive over (Loveland) pass instead of taking the Eisenhower tunnel home... just to see what sort of activity A-Basin is up to."
John Sellers agreed with the statement by Kimberly Trembearth, "It just comes down to temperature, We can't control mother nature. We open when we can and only when we can offer the best conditions for boarders and skiers. If we happen to be first, all the better." Neither ski area was willing to sacrifice the experience of their first skiers of the season by opening prematurely.
Other Colorado resorts that depend primarily on pre-booked traffic have set opening dates. Dates are as follows:
* Aspen: November 22
* Breckenridge: November 9
* Copper Mountain: November 2
* Steamboat: November 21
* Telluride: November 22
* Vail: November 16
* Winter Park: November 14
Other Areas Promoting the Race to Open
Several resorts in Nevada, Canada and the East Coast are planning to open at various times in October. The races to open are highly anticipated and always considered a friendly competition. Each resort focuses on the ability to lay a good base of snow before calling success. Of course higher-elevation resorts often finish first.
Early season snow in the Alps could give some French ski resorts an advantage over their counterparts. Resorts located high in the Alps and Pyrenese Mountains are making plans to open earlier than normal, but it has not been determined if they will open in October or early November. The ski resort race to open competition has been an invigorating opening for the 2008-2009 ski season.
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