Subhead
While local Summit County ski legend Nate Dogggg stood first in the lift line Sunday morning at the base of Arapahoe Basin Ski Area, Boulder’s Jake Burns waited first in another line inside the ski area’s lodge.
Burns was queued up for one of 300 personal beer mugs that will hang above the lodge’s 6th Alley Bar and Grill.
A-Basin opened for the season Sunday with an 18-inch base and skiing on the intermediate run High Noon.
The 6th Alley beer mugs cost $40 and every glass of beer the owner buys in the bar during the season is discounted $1.
Owners take their mugs home at the end of the season.
Burns left Boulder at 4 p.m. Saturday and camped down the road in Montezuma. He woke at 4 a.m. to sit on a bench outside the lodge until it opened at 7 a.m.
“It’s about superstitions,” Burns said. “You got to get the right number and then you’ll have a good ski year.”
Burns’ luck the last couple years hasn’t been so good. In 2012, he broke his femur. The year before, his thumb. This year he decided to pick No. 1, instead of his old No. 69. He hopes his luck changes.
“It’s all about priorities,” Andy Fozard said after picking up his mug number. “Mugs first, then the snow.”
Because opening day fell on a weekend this year, Fozard and his friend, Chris Thompson, made the trek from Denver for the mugs. After picking up their mugs, they were ready to snowboard.
Three hundreds mugs were sold and 100 possible mug owners were put on a wait list.
The remodeled bar is scheduled to open in November and there’s a good chance the ceiling will hold more mugs.
Dogggg made it 18 years in a row on the first chair and more than 1,000 other skiers and snowboarders carved lines in the snow under blue skies on the first day of skiing in North America.
“I’m here,” said Jesse Schroeder of Colorado Springs as he sprawled on the snow, watching the action in the terrain park.
“It’s a good day and if it snows as much as it rained this summer, it’s going to be a good year,” he said.
A skier rides a rail in the terrain park Sunday, Oct. 13, 2013, on the opening day of skiing in Colorado. Arapahoe Basin was the first ski area in North America to open for the 2013/2014 season. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock)
Jesse Schroeder of Colorado Springs rides a rail in the terrain park Sunday, Oct. 13, 2013, on the opening day of skiing in Colorado. Arapahoe Basin was the first ski area in North America to open for the 2013/2014 season. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock)
A snowboarder rides the High Noon run Sunday, Oct. 13, 2013, on the opening day of skiing in Colorado. Arapahoe Basin was the first ski area in North America to open for the 2013/2014 season. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock)
Sierra Castillo waits in the lift line for her first trip up the mountain Sunday, Oct. 13, 2013, on the opening day of skiing in Colorado. Arapahoe Basin was the first ski area in North America to open for the 2013/2014 season. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock)
Skiers and snowboarders wait in line for the Black Mountain Express lift Sunday, Oct. 13, 2013, on the opening day of skiing in Colorado. Arapahoe Basin was the first ski area in North America to open for the 2013/2014 season. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock)
Nate Dogggg, left, Trailer Tom, Bobry and Nickademus Mantooth celebrate as they ride the first chair Sunday, Oct. 13, 2013, on the opening day of skiing in Colorado. Dogggg has been on the first chair for the past 18 seasons. Arapahoe Basin was the first ski area in North America to open for the 2013/2014 season. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock)
Jake Burns, left, of Boulder and Greg Strumberger of Denver celebrate after being first and second in the wait for the 2013/2014 season personnal beer mugs for the 6th Alley Bar and Grill Sunday, Oct. 13, 2013, on the opening day of skiing in Colorado. Arapahoe Basin was the first ski area in North America to open for the 2013/2014 season. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock)