Skiers queue for first lift at A-Basin

14th October 2013, by Abi Butcher

One snowboarder queued since 6pm Friday night to be first on the lift at Arapahoe Basin

Arapahoe Basin has again been the first ski resort to open in Colorado. A-Basin opened one the Black Mountain Express lift at 08:30 yesterday morning, opening up one intermediate run — the High Noon — and the High Divide terrain park.

One snowboarder, who calls himself Nate Doggg, queued from 6pm on Friday night to be first on the lift.  The 36-year-old from Breckenridge has been first on the lift for the past 18 years.

Arapahoe Basin marketing director Leigh Hierholzer said: “We’re honored to be the first in the state to get the season started.”

At one point, the queue for the lift reached around 400 people.

Arapahoe- Basin used a combination of early season snow and snowmaking to open the resort four days earlier than last year. Conditions are only set to improve, with heavy snow forecast in the Rockies this week.

The Tignes glacier also opened this weekend, on Saturday 12 October, but following heavy snow across the Alps an avalanche swept down the Grande Motte glacier yesterday afternoon (Sunday) and onto the piste. Unconfirmed reports suggest the avalanche was set off by a group skiing off-piste.

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