Caroline Lalive skiing powder in Steamboat Springs photo credit: Larry Pierce
Colorado’s 2017-18 ski season launched today with a crowd of delighted skiers and snowboarders celebrating the first runs of the season at Arapahoe Basin Ski Area. At 9 a.m., atop an 18-inch base of packed powder, the Black Mountain Express lift began spinning, delivering skiers and riders to the top of intermediate High Noon trail.
Colorado ski resorts across the state received double-digit snow totals during the first week of October with many taking advantage of the cold nighttime temperatures to make snow. Loveland Ski Area and Arapahoe Basin started their snowmaking operations on Sunday, September 24. Recent natural snowfall and cold temperatures along the Continental Divide created good snowmaking conditions, allowing Arapahoe Basin to win the friendly #RaceToOpen this year.
Following a successful 2016-17 season in Colorado, and a summer and fall of major upgrades and improvements at Colorado Ski Country USA (CSCUSA) member resorts, A-Basin’s opening has skiers and riders across the country and around the world looking forward to enjoying Colorado’s dependable world-class winter conditions.
“Skiers and snowboarders everywhere look forward to the ski season kicking off in Colorado,” said CSCUSA President and CEO Melanie Mills. “Our snowmakers, groomers and operations crews work tirelessly to make this day a success, and it’s great to see the skiing community come together to celebrate the start of another season. Our resorts have spent the summer and fall preparing for this season’s guests by upgrading equipment, installing new lifts, opening new restaurants and preparing on and off mountain attractions.”
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*.
Ski Resorts Listed by Resort Name:
- Arapahoe Basin: October 13, 2017 – Early June 2018
- Aspen Highlands December 9, 2017 – April 8, 2018
- Aspen Mountain November 23, 2017 – April 15, 2018
- Buttermilk December 9, 2017 – April 8, 2018
- Cooper December 9, 2017 – April 8, 2018
- Copper Mountain November 10, 2017 – April 15, 2018
- Crested Butte November 23, 2017 – April 8, 2018
- Echo Mountain November 21, 2017 – April 15, 2018
- Eldora November 17, 2017 – April 8, 2018
- Granby Ranch December 15, 2017 – April 1, 2018
- Hesperus December 15, 2017 – April 1, 2018
- Howelsen Hill November 25, 2017 – March 11, 2018
- Loveland Mid-October 2017 – May 6, 2018
- Monarch November 22, 2017 – April 8, 2018
- Powderhorn December 15, 2017 – March 25, 2018
- Purgatory November 18, 2017 – April 15, 2018
- Silverton December 28, 2017 – April 8, 2018
- Snowmass November 23, 2017 – April 15, 2018
- Steamboat November 22, 2017 – April 15, 2018
- Sunlight December 8, 2017 – April 1, 2018
- Telluride November 23, 2017 – April 8, 2018
- Winter Park November 15, 2017 – April 29, 2018
- Wolf Creek November 3, 2017 – April 1, 2018
Ski Resort Listed by Opening Date:
- October 13 Arapahoe Basin
- Mid-October Loveland
- November 3 Wolf Creek
- November 10 Copper Mountain
- November 15 Winter Park
- November 17 Eldora
- November 18 Purgatory
- November 21 Echo Mountain
- November 22 Monarch
- November 22 Steamboat
- November 23 Aspen Mountain
- November 23 Crested Butte
- November 23 Snowmass
- November 23 Telluride
- November 25 Howelsen Hill
- December 8 Sunlight
- December 9 Aspen Highlands
- December 9 Buttermilk
- December 9 Cooper
- December 15 Granby Ranch
- December 15 Hesperus
- December 15 Powderhorn
- December 28 Silverton
*Dates are subject to change.
5th & 6th Grade Passport Program & Colorado Gems Card
Colorado Ski Country USA (CSCUSA), the trade association and global voice of skiing and snowboarding in Colorado, announced today that registration is open for the 5th and 6th Grade Passport Program and the Colorado Gems Card. The popular Passport Program offers unmatched access to 22 ski resorts across the state by giving fifth graders three days of free skiing or snowboarding at each resort and sixth graders 88 days on the slopes for less than $1.20 per day.
The Colorado Gems Card provides discounted skiing and riding with affordable prices at ten of Colorado’s most authentic ski resorts. Echo Mountain, located in Idaho Springs, will join the Passport and Gems programs for the 2017-18 ski season.
“The opening of Colorado Ski Country USA’s pass products signals the start of another ski season here in Colorado,” said Melanie Mills, President and CEO of Colorado Ski Country USA. “With more participating resorts, the 5th and 6th Grade Passport Program and the Colorado Gems Card provide affordable access to ski resorts all across Colorado.”
CSCUSA 5th and 6th Grade Passport Program
The 5th Grade Passport provides fifth graders three days of free skiing at 22 CSCUSA member resorts. The 6th Grade Passport allows sixth graders four days of skiing at the same 22 resorts for $105 if participants register before November 30, 2017. After November 30, 2017, registration for the 6th Grade Passport will be $125 until January 31, 2018. Additionally, CSCUSA’s First Class lesson program complements the 5th Grade Passport Program and provides fifth graders who have never skied or snowboarded one free ski or snowboard lesson and equipment rental.
To register for the Passport Program and for more information about First Class Lessons, parents can visitwww.ColoradoSki.com/Passport. The CSCUSA Passport Program enjoys the support of presenting sponsor Christy Sports, and program partners the Credit Union of Colorado and HEAD Skis.
Participating resorts in the 2017-18 Passport program include: Arapahoe Basin, Aspen Highlands, Aspen Mountain, Buttermilk, Cooper, Copper Mountain, Crested Butte, Echo Mountain, Eldora, Granby Ranch, Howelsen Hill, Hesperus, Loveland, Monarch, Powderhorn, Purgatory, Snowmass, Steamboat, Sunlight, Telluride, Winter Park and Wolf Creek.
Colorado Gems Card
Appropriately named, the Gems resorts are among Colorado’s best-hidden treasures. With affordable prices and world-class terrain, the Colorado Gems resorts offer an authentic Colorado skiing and snowboarding experience. For just $25, the Colorado Gems Card provides either two 2-for-1 adult lift tickets or two 30 percent off adult lift tickets at each of the ten Colorado Gems Resorts, providing up to 20 days of discounted skiing or riding at Colorado’s hidden gems.
For more information or to purchase a Colorado Gems Card, visit www.ColoradoSki.com/Gems.
Participating resorts in the 2017-18 Gems Card program include: Arapahoe Basin, Cooper, Echo Mountain, Eldora, Granby Ranch, Hesperus, Loveland, Monarch, Powderhorn and Sunlight.
