The race to be the first ski resort in North American to open for the 2016 -2017 ski season is on. Colorado’s Loveland Ski Area fired up its snow guns for the first time at 10 p.m. Monday. A few hours later mother nature helped out by letting some natural snow fly as well. Loveland plans to open its slopes this month.

See More Images Here: The Race Is ON! | Loveland And A-Basin Fire Up Snowguns

“It’s snowing hard and temps are going to stay low through the week, providing great conditions for our snowmakers,” ski area officials said in a press release.

Last year, Loveland opened for the season Oct. 29. In 2014, operations began Nov. 1.

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