Loveland loses bid to be first, will open Saturday

The tables turned this season in two Colorado resorts’ race to be the first in the nation to crank up the lifts.

THE TABLES TURNED this season in two Colorado resorts’ race to be the first in the nation to crank up the lifts.
    Summit County’s Arapahoe Basin beat its neighbor to the east, Loveland Ski Area, as the first to open for the first time Friday, opening the High Noon Run and three features in the resort’s terrain park at 9 a.m.
    Loveland lost the opening-day race for the first time in seven years, but officials announced Friday afternoon that the resort will open for the season Saturday.
    “We have wanted this title for a very long time and we’re excited to see it finally come to fruition,” Arapahoe Basin General Manager Alan Henceroth said.
    A-Basin has had the capability to open this early only since 2002, when it added snowmaking guns.
    Loveland, meanwhile, will open on the same date — Oct. 14 — as last season and one day earlier than the 2004-05 season. Loveland opened one week before A-Basin last season.
    “Skiers and snowboarders have been chomping at the bit for three weeks since snowmaking began, and we are excited to start the season,” said John Sellers, Loveland marketing director. “The snow is amazing, and with 18 inches of coverage, you don’t have to worry about hitting rocks and stumps. Leave the rock skis at home.”
    Skiers at Loveland will access a top-to-bottom run consisting of the Cat Walk, Mambo and Home Run trails via Chair One. A small terrain park also will be set up for jibbers at Loveland. The first chair is at 9 a.m.

 — The Associated Press contributed to this report