With low temperatures forecasted in Colorado throughout the rest of the week, Rocky Mountain skiers and snowboarders should be getting excited for the 2018-2019 winter season. The neighborly competition between Loveland Ski Area and Arapahoe Basin to be the first open ski area in the United States has become a closely watched contest dubbed ‘The Race to Open’.
In the past 16 seasons the ski areas have battled it out for opening day bragging rights, sometimes with one ski area opening just a day before the other. Last year the ‘Race to Open’ was won by Arapahoe Basin, who opened there Black Mountain Express Lift and High Noon Run on October 13th. Overall the record is close with Arapahoe Basin opening first 8 years, meanwhile Loveland has opened first 6 times and the ski areas have opened on identical days just twice.
As snow making crews begin to fire up this fall season across the country, it’s anyone’s guess who will get the favorable temperatures and early season storms to get skiers and snowboarders on the mountain. So place your bets now and to both crews, may the best ski area win.
