This weekend kicked off North America's 2014-2015 ski season as Arapahoe Basin opened on Friday. 

On Wednesday Arapahoe Basin sent out a press release with the news of the opening. “Conditions have been outstanding for snowmaking and we are very excited to open this Friday,” said Alan Henceroth, A-Basin’s Chief Operating Officer. A-Basin’s mountain operations team started making snow on October 2, 2014, and they were able to create the 18-inch base necessary for opening over the course of several days. The ski area also received about a foot of natural snow in the weeks prior to opening.

I got the chance to get up to A-Basin on Saturday to catch a few turns and to chat with their Chief Operating Officer, Alan Henceroth. 

While standing outside Guest Services under sunny skies and with a great look at High Noon, I could tell that Alan was chopped full of excitement. When I asked him how they were able to open ahead of their counterpart, Loveland Ski Area, all he had was praise for A-Basin's snowmaking team. "We were able to take advantage of last weekend's ideal temperatures to maintain continous snowmaking from Saturday night through Monday night with only a slight break on Monday afternoon."

When asked if he was concerned about the mostly warm and dry extended outlook, he maintained that they will do all they can to keep High Noon under skiable conditions and the snowmaking team will jump on the opportunity to make snow when they can. I thanked Alan for taking the time to talk with me and headed over to jump in line for the Black Mountain Express. 

Excitement, that's all you could feel when standing in line. It seemed like just yesterday when I skiied my last runs of the 2013-2014 season on May 14th. To my surprise, the line moved very quickly and after 10 or so minutes we were headed up the mountain. With my cousin to my right and two beginners from Missouri to my left, it was all smiles as we rode the chair to the mid-mountain drop off adjecent to the Black Mountain Lodge.

 

After a quick picture, my cousin and I buckled in and took off down the "white ribbon of death." The snow was what you would expect for it being 12:30 P.M. in mid-October, creamy on top and a sheet of ice underneath. It's not like anyone cared though, it's mid-October! We made our way down and immediately got in line for another. 

Just being on the mountain this early in the Fall is all any skier or snowboarder can ask for. My cousin and I reminisced about last season and can only hope that this season comes even close. After finishing our second run, my cousin and I contemplated calling it a day. We both looked at each other and agreed on the old saying, "two more, skip the last."

Sam Collentine | OpenSnow