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2022-2023 "First to Open" in North America thread

mister moose

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Private clubs are not open to the public... so nope, they don't count.

Current rules, First day open:
  1. Must be a resort/hill/area (i.e. someplace with a lift)
  2. Must be open to the public (so no private clubs)
  3. Must be running a lift of any kind
  4. Cannot be a year-round skiing place (i.e. no glaciers and no indoor)
  5. Can be open a partial day
Current rules, First open for the season:
  1. Must be a resort/hill/area (i.e. someplace with a lift)
  2. Must be open to the public (so no private clubs)
  3. Must be running a lift of any kind
  4. Cannot be a year-round skiing place (i.e. no glaciers and no indoor)
  5. Must remain open "for the season" - i.e. not close due to warm weather and lack of snow
There are still some grey areas within that... but I think it's a pretty good set.

Who decided on the rules above? Randoms. Do those rules codify what is and isn't worthy of being called first to open? Yes.
The rules that count is who gets the TV coverage. If some other place gets the TV coverage, you weren't first.
 

Tricia

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As long as it's not a year round ski area, I'm kinda getting worn out on all the rules.


IMHO the first to open is the one that is open for the season (read - stays open)
But, if someone is stoked because their hill beat A-BAsin to the punch... That's kind of exciting!
 

fatbob

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I would think that the flaw in the current rules are that there are not enough of them. If they can't be padded out to at least 20 pages then it's not really worth anywhere opening.


Also once @ dbostedo is done with these can he start on reworking the skier's code into something that works for all modern skiing applications.
 

nay

dirt heel pusher
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Well, suppose one opens in early october for one day?
@Dave Petersen could make snow in his yard, invite people and call it open.

I could spin Hillington right now.

4A4FF366-4D80-4566-8B75-4711081B2EB2.jpeg
 

Doug Briggs

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View attachment 181573

Isn’t that about where we saw that guy bite it at high speed off piste in May?
And patrol was watching with binoculars.
Actually, looking at the full size image, that is not it. That is on a ridge on the near side of the 'lake' (technically a 'tarn'). If we could see through the ridge, that would be the right location for the arrow, though. The shadow on the ridge is deceiving:

1667000086470.png

In the original, it just looks like a shadow on the Lake Chutes.

1667000162300.png

A little later it is more apparent that it is a ridge.

1667000661541.png

That is the tomahawk line. This shot was from the Imperial lift. The brown patches to the left are the back of the ridge with the shadow. The low spot between the ridge and the line are the 'lake'.
 

Rudi Riet

AKA songfta AKA randomduck - a USSS coach, as well
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I'm waiting for the dramatic, drawn-in-MS Paint reenactment, @Doug Briggs.

Or maybe the whole thing in GIF memes... :ogbiggrin:
 

Doug Briggs

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I'm waiting for the dramatic, drawn-in-MS Paint reenactment, @Doug Briggs.

Or maybe the whole thing in GIF memes... :ogbiggrin:
No reenactment or memes. We were kind of stunned watching it. It was a massive wreck. He virtually disappeared in the snow at the end and wasn't moving moments later. As @James mentions, the patrol had him in their sights (binoculars).
 

hollyberry

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LOL. Yeah, I always liked Wolf Creek for that. They open as soon as there is something skiable top to bottom, doesn't have to be good. I didn't know it was common other places to have open but very marginal terrain. I don't think Wolf Creek believes in the concept of "ropes". Unless it is gate only access to an area, if the lift is open, the terrain served by it is technically open. If you go in October and run out of snow halfway down a run, well... have a nice hike. It's happened to me and a couple of friends.

Wolf Creek: We just spin the lifts, finding a skiable line is on you.
I just booked a flight to visit my sister in TX for Thanksgiving with a possible weekend trip to Pagosa Springs/ Wolf Creek if the weather cooperates. Fingers crossed!
 

Mel

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Sunshine Village in Banff opens tomorrow with a single lift running but all natural snow, and moved their opening day a week earlier due to snowfall. Lake Louise opens Friday.

That news led to this text exchange with my (non-skier) spouse:
90D032A9-D2E6-4631-A1E7-47BC86161222.jpeg
 

hollyberry

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I just booked a flight to visit my sister in TX for Thanksgiving with a possible weekend trip to Pagosa Springs/ Wolf Creek if the weather cooperates. Fingers crossed!
Update: Wolf Creek had spectacular conditions for Thanksgiving weekend! Unbelievable! There was so much powder in the glades that several skiers in our party actually got buried nearly waist deep in snow several times.
 

nay

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Update: Wolf Creek had spectacular conditions for Thanksgiving weekend! Unbelievable! There was so much powder in the glades that several skiers in our party actually got buried nearly waist deep in snow several times.
Post pics in the Colorado thread!!!
 

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