No one had to spend the night to get first chair at Arapahoe Basin. The first people on the lift got to the resort around 6:30am. The lift line throughout the day didn't get longer than 10 minutes at a time.
News from around the state were at the scene capturing every silly ski dude move there was. Here, the Fox 31 camera gets good aim at the lift line at A-Basin.
Minnesotan Eric Daffron (far left) and a few other hungry skiers get ready for the Basin to begin the countdown to open the chairlift for the first time of the 2008-2009 season.
Fighting through the thicket of journalists and hungry skiers, this camera man stands tall to get the perfect shot of Opening Day at A-Basin October 15, 2008.
While many of the participants in the crowd were local to Summit County, overwhelming support was felt from news outlets across the state. Here, KSMT Radio Station hands out donuts from Daylight Donuts to the cold and hungry skiers and snowboarders.
In honor of Edna Dercum, an Arapahoe Basin pioneer and legend, the resort sent the first chair up following a moment of silence.
Pete Drummond and friends land the first chair of the season at Arapahoe Basin for the 2008-2009 ski season. Though they didn't have to stay overnight, Drummond and pals had to get up early, getting to the resort at 6:15am.
On the conditions on Day 1, Drummond says "Fantastic. Velvety. Superb. Couldn't ask for better."
The Pabst Brothers, aka Jake and Andy Tornatzky came all the way from Fort Collins to ski on the first day of the season. They've made about 2/3 of the opening days since 1993. To them, the snow was just fine. "It was excellent, nice and crispy," they said. "We started drinking at 8:30am."
A stop on Loveland Pass reveals a very busy and snowy Arapahoe Basin. The resort plans on being open for 240 days this year.
The first riders enjoy their lift above Arapahoe Basin, most of which is pretty dry with hopes of getting snow soon.
Giuseppe de Luca, of Dillon, CO, checks peoples passes for the first time of the season on Wednesday at 8:30 am. The crowd was literally buzzing with excitement as the long summer officially came to a close.
A shot of the Base lodge at Basin with the 6th Alley Bar. It may look lonely but it got happening later on in the day.
Pete Drummond was the first one down at A-Basin's Opening Day. Tony Morzelli, the second one down, was bitter at his defeat. "My buddy Pete weighs a little bit more than me," Morzelli said. "That's why he was first. It was great snow. I got about four turns."
Jake Larue of Frisco, CO digs into a free donut from KSMT Radio Station. "Daylight's the best, man," Larue said.
The view at the top of the lift shows a promising base starting on the rest of the mountain. Skiers may only be able to ski one run for a while, but that should change soon.
Arapahoe Basin cares about it's skiers. Signs were posted at the top of the lift warning people not to exert themselves too early. Makes sense when the ski season will hopefully be 240 days long.
A lift operator helps Santa Claus and his merry men get on the lift on Wednesday. Everyone's spirits were high.
Although there are 18 inches of snow on the run at A-Basin, the rest of Summit County is pretty dry. Loveland made the same amount of snow for their opening as well.
For some, the Opening Day was the perfect opportunity to take advantage of an early learning curve. James and Rose Rode came up to enjoy skiing for the first time this season. Rose is 2 and skied about 15 times last year. They hope to hit the chair lift this year. Watch out for Rose in a future olympics... she'll be dominating the competition.
Gary Mann, of Denver, skipped work as a licensed plumber today instead hoping for some new season turns and a ride on a chairlift with a SkiNet reporter.
Waiting for the lift line to shorten, one skier pops open a cold one in celebration of the first day of the season.
Santa Claus, aka Dave Gottlieb and his friends Noal Grindelle, PJ Hoberman, and Scott Weaver add a little pizzazz to the opening day. There were not as many costumes on the slopes this year as there were last. Most notably, the Great Pumpkin made an appearance in 2007.
RSN, the local channel in ski towns, gets a quote from a happy snowboarder at Arapahoe Basin on Wednesday.
A view of the run early on Wednesday morning at Arapahoe Basin, CO.
For some, the main reason about coming to Arapahoe Basin is to hone their skills in the park. That's just about what 18 inches of snow is good for.
Mike McGowan took his daughter Ashley out of the ninth grade at Summit High School Wednesday for "urgent matters."
A man not afraid of color looks for his skis among the hords on the racks at A-Basin. According to Leigh Hierholzer, A-Basin's PR lady, there were supposed to be about 1,500 people skiing on Wednesday. Last year they had almost 1,000. "I think it will benefit the whole ski industry," Hierholzer said of the two resorts opening together.
Pete and Tony, the lucky guys to snag the first chair at Arapahoe Basin, Wednesday. The guys celebrated by joining the mug club. You can buy a mug at the beginning of the season, first drink is free, the rest are cheap. Your specific mug stays at the bar all season and you can take it home with you at the end of the year.
"It's simple math," Pete said. " You got to buy your mug at the beginning of the season so you get your money's worth."
After three hours, the crew at the 6th Alley Bar had sold out all 300 mugs.
The lucky guys left us with a a few messages:
"Tell Warren if he wants to film, I'll be here all season," Tony said. "Don't drink the mug with your ski boots on," Pete said. "That's just trouble."
"It's simple math," Pete said. " You got to buy your mug at the beginning of the season so you get your money's worth."
After three hours, the crew at the 6th Alley Bar had sold out all 300 mugs.
The lucky guys left us with a a few messages:
"Tell Warren if he wants to film, I'll be here all season," Tony said. "Don't drink the mug with your ski boots on," Pete said. "That's just trouble."
A patron with an inclination for the color blue, orders a mug and joins the A-Basin time-honored tradition.
Cotter, of Silverthorne jumps a rail in the terrain park at A-Basin on opening day. He arrived at 8:15am that morning to take part in the festivities and enjoy freshly made snow for the first time of the season.
Darren Droge of Lakewood, CO, proves that it isn't the size of the skis that matter. It's his tenth year coming to opening day and has celebrated the last day of the season every year too. "It's a tradition," Droge said.
Jonni Cohen and his dog Bertha check out the Beach at the Basin. They came all the way from Clear Creek County to get to Opening Day.
A mother helps her son make it down the mountain on Wednesday. Skiing in October helps children learn earlier to finish the season stronger.
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