Arapahoe Basin Ski Area in Summit County, Colorado, kicked off the 2019-20 ski season in North America on October 11. Operations began at 3:30 p.m. on opening day and kept the Black Mountain Express Lift turning until 5:30 p.m., servicing the High Noon intermediate run.
A-Basin hosts the longest ski and ride season in Colorado, open from mid-October to early June, often later. This past season, the ski area opened October 19, 2018 and continued winter operations through July 4, 2019. A-Basin was only closed for 99 days, the shortest amount of time in its history.
“We did this because the snow is really good, our people are anxious and we are ready to go,” said Alan Henceroth, Araphoe Basin chief operating officer. “We thought it would be fun.”
The Banana Terrain Park opened on October 12 with four features. A-Basin started snowmaking on October 2, and will continue to make snow as conditions permit with the goal of opening more terrain as soon as possible.