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racetoopen

Ski Ward, MA, Wins the Race to Open as the First Resort in North America to Offer Lift-Served Turns

The race to open for the 2024-25 ski season is over, and in a surprise twist that’s becoming something of a tradition, a small Massachusetts ski area has technically won. Every year, ski areas nationwide see who can get their snowguns running the fastest and their ski lifts running first. In years past, Arapahoe Basin in Colorado has often snagged […]

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Avatar photo SnowBrains | October 20, 2024
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Snowmaking for Winter 24/25 Begins in 70 Days

Summer began three weeks ago, so the days are getting shorter, and we can start dreaming of winter. Let the countdown begin! Colorado resorts Arapahoe Basin and Loveland are usually among the first resorts in North America to open. Their snowmaking teams typically start making snow the last week of September in preparation for a mid-October to early November opening. Related: […]

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Avatar photo SnowBrains | July 15, 2024
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Minnesota Ski Area Throws Down #RaceToOpen Gauntlet, Teases Opening Day in 5 Weeks

wild mountain, Minnesota, snowmaking

Twice in the last three years, Wild Mountain in Minnesota has been the first ski resort in North America to open for the season. If a post they shared to Instagram on Friday is anything to go by, they’re hoping for the same again this year. “5 weeks from today? Hmmmm. Hard to say. Buuuuuut, temps go into the 40s next […]

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Avatar photo SnowBrains | September 10, 2023
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Which Ski Resort Will Open First This Year? #RaceToOpen

opening day, Arapahoe Basin, colorado

Ladies and gentlemen, ski season is right around the corner! Temps are falling, we’re seeing the first snow of the season, and winter will be here before we know it. So, you know what that means; time to make your first chair predictions. Which ski resort will open first? Colorado is notorious for taking the title, with resorts like Arapahoe Basin, Wolf […]

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Jack Conroy | August 22, 2023
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Wild Mountain, MN, Begins Snowmaking | Could it Win the Race to Open?

wild mountain, Minnesota, snowmaking

Wild Mountain, MN, has begun snowmaking ahead of the 2022/23 ski season. Related: The Spirit of Skiing is Alive and Well in Minnesota! Traditionally the first resort to open in the state, Wild Mountain shocked the big boys in Colorado two years ago by being the first resort in North America to open when it started turning a lift on October 20th, […]

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Avatar photo SnowBrains | October 17, 2022
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#RaceToOpen is Won! Wild Mountain, MN Opened on Monday

wild mountain, Minnesota

SnowBrains · #RaceToOpen Is Won! Wild Mountain, MN Opened On Monday Traditionally the first resort to open in the state, Wild Mountain, MN can this week add a new feather to their cap – the first resort to open in North America for the 20/21 season. If your money was on A-Basin, or Loveland in Colorado, then unfortunately you’re out […]

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Avatar photo SnowBrains | October 22, 2020
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Arapahoe Basin, Loveland, and Vail, CO Begin Making Snow for Real | The #RaceToOpen is On

loveland, snow guns, racetoopen,

Arapahoe Basin, Loveland, and Vail Resorts in Colorado have all taken advantage of cooler temperatures and the few inches of snow that fell yesterday by firing up their snow guns for real. “The natural snowfall mostly stopped by early evening yesterday. The temperature dropped with an overnight wet-bulb low of 15 F. The snowmakers had all the fan guns spinning. […]

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Avatar photo SnowBrains | October 14, 2020
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Snowmaking Tests a Success at Arapahoe Basin, CO | #RaceToOpen Begins!

snowmaking, Arapahoe Basin,

Last week’s snowmaking testing was a success, writes Arapahoe Basin COO Alan Henceroth on his blog page. All that remains now is for the temperature to drop so the resort can begin making snow for real and get the slopes ready for an opening day. Last week we ran the snowmaking system for the first time this season. Often, the very […]

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Avatar photo SnowBrains | October 5, 2020
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Arapahoe Basin, CO Have Snow Guns Ready To Go | It Won’t Be Long…

guns out, Arapahoe Basin, colorado, snow guns

The weather forecast might say warm and dry, but that doesn’t mean that thoughts aren’t already turning towards winter. Arapahoe Basin, CO are priming their snowguns and snowmaking equipment, ready to pounce as soon as snowmaking conditions are here. Related: PHOTOS: Arapahoe Basin, CO Began Winter 2019/20 Yesterday with Savage Last Minute Announcement! Regularly the first resort in North America to […]

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Avatar photo SnowBrains | September 25, 2020
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Arapahoe Basin, CO CEO Recommends ‘Dusting Off Your Skis and Snowboards’ as Snowmaking ‘Has Been Incredible’

Arapahoe Basin, a-basin, colorado, snowmaking, racetoopen

Arapahoe Basin, CO began making snow last week in their attempt to win the #RaceToOpen and be the first resort in North America to start their lifts turning for winter 2019/20. CEO Alan Henceroth brought us a couple of updates on how this is going: “The last couple of days of snowmaking have been even better than I was expecting and the […]

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Avatar photo SnowBrains | October 8, 2019
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7 Resorts Have their Snowguns Blazing | Keystone, CO Joins #RaceToOpen for First Time in Over 20-Years

snow guns, snowmaking, mt rose ski Tahoe, nevada

Three resorts across the country already have the snowguns blazing, making snow in preparation for as early an opening as mother nature allows, with four more getting the guns ready. Related: What Ski Resort Will Open First This Year? #RaceToOpen Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe in Nevada was the first to officially begin making snow over the weekend, and Arapahoe Basin […]

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Avatar photo SnowBrains | October 3, 2019
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These Ski Resorts in North America Will OPEN Next Month #RaceToOpen

Treated groundwater is perfect for snowmaking, and it is sustainable

With the start of September, summer is on the way out, and fall is fast approaching. Oh, and next month ski resorts will start to open! That’s right! Historically, there are a bunch of ski resorts right across North America that target mid-October as their opening day. Related: UPDATE: Wolf Creek Ski Area, CO WILL Open this Weekend for the […]

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WeatherBrains | September 2, 2019
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And So it Begins! Arapahoe Basin, CO Post First Pictures of ‘White Stuff’ on their Mountain Today

Arapahoe Basin, a-basin, colorado, snow, racetoopen

It might not look much, but it’s a sign that the seasons they are a’changin’! And so it begins. Not sure if it is snow, hail, sleet, slush or what, but the first white stuff of the season was high on the East Wall this morning. Arapahoe Basin, CO posted a picture this morning of ‘white stuff’ on the side […]

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WeatherBrains | August 22, 2019
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PHOTO TOUR: Wolf Creek, CO Opens Winter 2018/19 with Powder Conditions

wolf creek, colorado, opening day

All eyes were on Wolf Creek, CO this weekend as they were the first resort in North America to open for the upcoming season. A 30″ mid-October storm set them up nicely for their second earliest opening day ever. The opening day treated eager skiers and riders to a 22″ base with powder conditions across 3 lifts, 60% of available […]

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Avatar photo SnowBrains | October 15, 2018
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Wolf Creek, CO Wins the #RaceToOpen | A-Basin and Loveland, CO Announce they WON’T Open this Weekend

wolf creek, colorado, racetoopen

After a storm this week dumped almost 2-feet of snow at Wolf Creek, CO the ski area announced they will open for business at 9 am on Saturday, Oct. 13, making it the first area in North America to open to the public for the season. The resort will open the rental shop, ski school, main lodge, and three lifts. […]

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Avatar photo SnowBrains | October 12, 2018
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#RaceToOpen UPDATE: Arapahoe Basin, CO Will NOT Open Before Wolf Creek, CO This Weekend

a-basin, colorado, wolf creek, racetoopen

For most of the last 20-years, the first resort to open in North America has been one of either Loveland or Arapahoe Basin, CO. Yesterday Wolf Creek, also Colorado, threw a curveball and announced that due to all the recent snow, they would start their lifts turning on Saturday, and will open weekends going forward. Wolf Creek Ski Area, CO Will […]

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Avatar photo SnowBrains | October 11, 2018
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UPDATE: Wolf Creek Ski Area, CO WILL Open this Weekend for the 2018/19 Season #RaceToOpen

wolf creek, colorado

Wolf Creek Ski Area, Colorado will be open for the season with weekends only, beginning Saturday, October 13th and Sunday, October 14th! Wolf Creek received 12 inches Monday, October 8th with another 8 inches today, October 10th.  The settled midway base is 14 inches with 20 inches year-to-date this season. Treasure Stoke, Bonanza, and Nova lifts will be operating with very early […]

Post Tag for Conditions ReportConditions Report
Avatar photo SnowBrains | October 11, 2018
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