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A Basin Opens Ski Season In Colorado

SUMMIT COUNTY, Colo. (CBS4)- Eager skiers and boarders lined up at Arapahoe Basin to be among the first to hit the slopes in Colorado this ski season.

Wednesday Arapahoe Basin started up a chairlift to bring skiers to the top so they could make a run down the mountain.

A Basin opened with an 18-inch base and a dusting of fresh powder from a storm that blew through Tuesday night. The snow making guns were still operating even after people started skiing.

This is the 17th year for a Summit County institution on A Basin's opening day.

"First chair west of the Mississippi, if you really want to play it. It's just the start of another season because we always love the snow here," said first in line snowboarder Nate Dogggg, spelled with four gs.

Nate Dogggg started camping out at 9 a.m. Tuesday to continue his streak of being the first in line and the first on the lift.

"There have been some rumors that this has been fixed in the past but I can guarantee that we wait in line like everybody else and work hard to get where we're at," said Dogggg. "Everyday for the past week we've been up here and then I showed up yesterday at 9 a.m. to stay through the night."

"It's a long night out on the chairlift with a sleeping bag," said skier Kevin Burns.

Dogggg has high hopes for this year's season after last year's lackluster ski season in Colorado.

Photo Gallery: A Basin Opens The 2012-2013 Ski Season

"I just pray that we have a lot more powder days than last year and hopefully it lasts longer than Cinco de Mayo," said Dogggg.

Snow conditions at Arapahoe Basin forced the ski area to close on May 6. That was about a month earlier than normal.

When asked if the anticipation for opening day is more so now than in past years, one skier said, "Yea, I think so. After the mild winter and longer time without snow I think everyone is looking forward to this year."

"We're just happy to get back into it. We've had some very favorable weather for snowmaking and the crew has done an outstanding job. Everyone is psyched," said Arapahoe Basin CEO Alan Henceroth.

As for A Basin, the ski area is looking forward, not back.

"We've already forgotten about last year. It's always important to have a good year and I feel good, snowmaking is going well. We're going to have a good year," said Henceroth.

Skiing In Colorado

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