October 30th, 2009

46 ski resorts in the world open in October. For many resorts these are the earliest openings in history.

Loveland Ski Resort in Colorado became the first resort in North America to open on October 9th, 2009. Las Vegas Ski and Snowboard Resort, Arapahoe Basin, Mammoth Mountain, and Sunday River quickly followed. Mont Saint-Sauveur Ski Resort in Canada opened October 18th, 2009 becoming the first to open in Canada.  Austria's resort, Kitzbuhel opened October 24th, breaking it's own record. Bormio, Dachstein, Courmayeur, Verbier, and Zermatt are open as well as many others. It is amazing to see such an early winter across the globe. Hopefully old man winter continues to bless us with deep blankets of snow.

Loveland riders celebrate 1st chair  the season. This Photo: Photo: Casey Day casey@colo

radoinfo.com

Grand Targhee in Wyoming remains closed, but skiers still score early season powder.

Knee Deep at the Top of Snowmass photo: Snowmass Safety Patrol

Mammoth gets pounded and opens to 5,000 skiers and snowboarders on opening day. photo: www.mammothsnowman.com

More early season photos and stories:

Snowbird Resort is not open, but Utah riders have been getting deep powder on the mountain. Story Here

 Grand Targhee Resort in Wyoming opens November 14th, but saw some of the earliest tracks of any slope this season. Story Here

Las Vegas Ski area opens in October

Loveland becomes first resort in North America to open