DENVER, Colorado, October 31 /PRNewswire/ --
- Arapahoe Basin the First Resort to Open in the USA, the EarliestOpening in its 60 Year History
- Over 5 Feet of Snow Already Fallen in Colorado
- Colorado Ski Country Opens New Information Office Service for UK Press
Early season snow storms in the Colorado ski country area - 26 of thebest ski resorts in North America - means that some resorts are already openfor skiers and snow boarders with many others now planning to push theiropening dates forward.
A huge amount of snow has fallen in the State during October with resortstaff working hard to capitalise on this by grooming and compacting snow onpiste ready for the new season.
Sue Baldwin, vice president of Colorado Ski Country USA (CSCUSA), thenot-for-profit trade association representing the Colorado ski industry,says, "If the early season snow fall is any indication of the coming season,we are looking forward to a wonderful year ahead. Resorts across the Statehave reported above average snow for the month with year-to-date snow fallstotalling 73 inches in Loveland, 65 inches at Wolf Creek, over 60 at Aspenand 53 inches in Telluride."
- Arapahoe Basin opened for business on October 13 and was the firstAmerican resort to do so, beating fellow Colorado resort, Loveland, by a day- the earliest the area has opened in its 60th anniversary year.
- With 55% of the terrain perfect for beginners and intermediates, WolfCreek has received 5.5 feet of natural snow since September and opened onOctober 27 - again a first for the resort.
- Similarly, the Aspen/Snowmass area which also includes Buttermilk andAspen Highlands has had pre-season snow of more than 5 feet and the localteam is working hard to pack it, and prepare the mountains ready for theopening on November 23. When skiers and snowboarders return, they'll findmore than US$23 million worth of on mountain improvements including the new Elk Camp Gondola at Snowmass (opening mid December) and new cabins on AspenMountain's Silver Queen Gondola. And of course, the area has more than 500kilometres of pistes and is home to the world famous ESPN Winter X gamesthrough to 2010.
- Having received more than three feet of snow in October alone, KeystoneResort will open a week earlier than previously scheduled, with the officialopening now on November 3. Copper Mountain opens the same day.
Colorado is the USA's premier ski destination, famed for its guaranteedsoft, fluffy snow, good weather and long season. Last year, Colorado receivedover 9 metres of snow, averaged 300 days of sunshine with the season endingin early June.
No other USA ski destination comes close in terms of the availablequality of skiing. Colorado topped 12 million skier visits in 2005-06, whichis more skiers than California and Utah combined.
And there's something for everyone - from the glitz of Aspen and Vail, tothe old mining town feel of Breckenridge, Telluride and Steamboat, to newdevelopments at Copper Mountain, Beaver Creek and Crested Butte.
All resorts are totally geared to ensuring visitors experience customerservice second to none, so that people have holidays they'll never forgetwith touches unknown in Europe - whether it be free biscuits and coffee onmountain, free mountain tour guides or staff to help load skis on and offbuses.[1] The attention to visitors is exemplary.
New press service opening
To help UK journalists uncover skiing in the State of Colorado, CSCUSA isopening an Information Office in the UK, manned during office hours. So, ifyou are thinking of writing anything ski related, would like to plan a trip toColorado, need ideas for stories or just want pictures or information, get intouch with Tom Herbst.
For a complete listing of resort opening dates, snow conditions andcurrent photographs, please visit the web at www.coloradoski.com
[1] Services provided at Aspen Snowmass for example.
Colorado Ski Country USA
Tom Herbst, THPR, Tel: +44(0)7768-145571 or +44(0)207-274-9937, Email: tom@tomherbstpr.co.uk
