Colorful blurs streaked across the fresh white mountainside and faces flushed red with cold and exhilaration Sunday as Colorado skiers enjoyed the first day of a new season.
A parking lot of frozen slush accommodated dozens of vehicles while hundreds of skiers and snowboarders strapped in their feet at Loveland Ski Area, the first ski area to open in the state this season.
While temperatures were in the 60s in Denver, skiers’ faces were under wraps against 30-mph winds that gusted amid scattered snowfall.
“It’s been a really strong turnout,” Loveland director of marketing John Sellers said.
“Everyone’s been saying that the snow’s riding great,” Sellers said.
Eight inches of natural snow fell on the slopes in the two days leading up to the opening, making for good conditions on the big day, Sellers said.
The National Weather Service was forecasting more heavy snow in the mountains starting Sunday evening, with accumulations of up to 11 inches by today.
“The natural snow, it’s huge to get that,” Sellers said.
Last season, heavy early snowfall allowed Loveland to open Oct. 7.
Loveland has one run open with a 1,000-foot drop over a distance of about 1 mile.
Sellers said new terrain would open in the near future as crews continue to make snow.
Albert Haegely of Littleton was one skier who couldn’t wait to get on the slopes — or rather, slope.
“I always get psyched the first cold nights of autumn, when you know winter is almost here,” said Haegely, who said he is looking to get 30 or 40 days of skiing in this season.
Although Haegely said he had low expectations for the conditions on the first day, he said the allure of the sport had him out on Day One anyway.
“When you first start linking turns on a moderately steep slope, it’s like you’re doing a dance with the gods,” he said.
Kyle Glazier: 303-954-1638 or kglazier@denverpost.com
