Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
SOLITUDE — Hundreds of skiers and snowboarders alike waited in line, hopping on the ski lift one by one Sunday at Solitude Mountain Resort in Big Cottonwood Canyon.
"I'm stoked for this season," said avid snowboarder Andres Dominguez III. "I was surprised, I didn't know (Solitude) was going to be open this weekend. As soon as I heard they were going to be open I hit up my friends … and we drove up."
People of all ages and levels came to the resort Sunday, including Fabio Da Silva.
"It is my first time skiing," he said.
Da Silva added he watched YouTube videos before going. "I booked up some lessons, I have (it) on the 17th actually," he said.
Youngsters take to the ski trails
Drew Merriman and Carter Dickinson, both 7 years old, told KSL they were happy to be back skiing. Drew said his favorite part is "going fast and hitting all the jumps."
He had a GoPro camera attached to his helmet and plans to make a video out of the footage.
Carter admits he was "a little" scared going down the mountain, but had fun during his visit. "It's fun, it's good, it's playful," he said.
Despite warm temperatures in the forecast, Solitude is the first resort to open, while others kicking off their season next Friday. Some even pushed back their opening dates.
Resort felt confident about opening
Travis Holland, spokesman for the resort, said thanks to the work of its team, resort operators felt confident about opening early.
"It's been a lot of snowmaking mixed with a lot of natural snow, we started to evaluate conditions and we thought why not?" he said. "We have some really die-hard locals down in the valley that just can't wait to get back up the mountain and conditions are going to allow it so we're going to spin the lifts for them."
Dominguez III noticed there was not a lot of snow on the mountain. However, he was just happy to have the season start.
"As long as you're up on the mountain, getting some sunlight, getting some exercise, that's what matters to me," he said.
Holland said the resort will be closed Monday through Thursday and reopen Friday, hoping to move operations to seven days a week soon. For more information about the resort, click here.
Below is a list of each resort and their opening days according to Ski Utah. All dates are subject to change:
- Alta Ski Area – TBA
- Beaver Mountain – TBA
- Brian Head Resort – Nov. 17
- Brighton Resort – TBA
- Cherry Peak Resort – TBA
- Deer Valley Resort – Dec. 2
- Eagle Point Resort – Dec. 15
- Nordic Valley – Dec. 2
- Park City Mountain – Nov. 17
- Powder Mountain – TBA
- Snowbasin Resort – Nov. 24
- Snowbird – Nov. 30
- Solitude Mountain Resort – Open
- Sundance Mountain Resort – Dec. 2
- Woodward Park City – Nov. 18
