Lost in all the history-making this week, Colorado twice entered the record books in an ominous sign for the future.
On Sunday, the temperature reached 73 degrees in Denver, the highest recorded mark on that date since 1931. In response, Elitch Gardens stayed open an extra day, the latest season-closing day in its 118-year history.
All well and good for amusement park fans. But what about the snow sports? When can we ski? When can we board?
Today, the ski season unofficially kicks off in full force. Three more ski areas open for winter business, joining three others already shuttling skiers and riders up their mountains.
Breckenridge, Keystone and Wolf Creek open their lifts today, joining Arapahoe Basin and Loveland, which opened last month, and Copper Mountain, which started Thursday.
Like fine-wine enthusiasts, skiers and snowboarders can sniff out the finest differences in powders and packs. And everyone is wondering what to expect this winter in Colorado’s mountains.
“For a general outlook, we’re expecting a near-normal snowfall this season,” said Bob Kleyla, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Boulder. “But you could still have a couple storms that make up the difference and raise the averages.”
Take that, pessimists.
“In the northern mountains now, the snowpack is about 60 percent of normal,” Kleyla added. “But that’s very early. Now, if we get through November and it’s still low, there might trouble.
“It’s not real predictable.”
In other words, cross your fingers, snow fans.
AROUND TOWN
Toeing the line.
Chauncey Billups, the new-again Nuggets point guard, could give Denver a boost in close games down the stretch.
Billups’ .886 career free-throw percentage would rank fourth in Denver franchise history, behind Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf (.916), Earl Boykins (.899) and Walter Davis (.896). And Billups’ .918 mark from the line last season with Detroit would have been the fifth-best single-season mark in Nuggets history.
Fans can get their first up-close look at Billups tonight and Sunday night at the Pepsi Center. The Nuggets host Dallas at 8:30 p.m. tonight (ESPN, Altitude) and Memphis at 6 p.m. Sunday (Altitude).
STAY ON THE COUCH
Load up on beer and chips.
After the Broncos played the NFL’s first Thursday night game of the season, Denver football fans were left with a full TV schedule of games Sunday. When the Broncos play at home, no game can be shown simultaneously on the other network (either KDVR-31 or KCNC-4).
With Denver off this weekend, fans will get two 11 a.m. games: Green Bay at Minnesota on KDVR-31, and Tennessee at Chicago on KCNC-4.
But the marquee game for Denver fans will be the 2 p.m. game, when Kansas City plays at San Diego, airing on KCNC-4.
The Broncos’ fourth-quarter rally Thursday night gives them a 1 1/2 game lead over the Charger in a race that probably will go down to the wire. Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers is the NFL’s best-rated passer.
NFL passer-rating leaders . . . and Jay Cutler (before Thursday)
Player, team, rating
1. Philip Rivers, San Diego, 107.8
2. Kurt Warner, Arizona, 104.2
3. Tony Romo, Dallas, 103.5
4. Drew Brees, New Orleans, 101.6
5. Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay, 95.3
16. Jay Cutler, Denver, 86.9
GET OFF THE COUCH
Learning the three R’s.
Colorado’s premier road race this weekend will kick off Saturday on the Western Slope. The Rim Rock Run 37K starts at the Colorado National Monument near Grand Junction, then runs through high desert and red rock-lined canyons, over mesas and past huge rock formations.
Now in its 16th year, the race helps to benefit Mesa State College cross country team scholarships and starts at 8 a.m. If nothing else, check out photos of the picturesque route on the race website, .
WHAT WE’D LIKE TO SEE
Can local boys make good?
Good luck this weekend to Denver native Shane Bertsch and Colorado State grad Martin Laird.
Entering this weekend’s final PGA Tour stop of the season, the Children’s Miracle Network Classic in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., Bertsch and Laird are ranked near the 125-player cutoff for tour exemption. Bertsch is ranked 124th and Laird 126th. A good showing in Florida could propel them through next season.
Denver native Kevin Stadler, a longshot entering the weekend at 146th, could jump up with a top-five showing.
