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Spy Vs. Spy - Loveland And A-Basin

By J.D. O'Connor
October 16, 2006

Sure, it's a friendly rivalry and, sure, the early open is largely symbolic, but we're hearing there was some last-minute "ski boots on the ground" surveillance going on at Loveland and Arapahoe Basin before both opened for the season last week.

You all know by now that Loveland lost its coveted title of "First to Open" - a banner it has carried with pride for the last six years - when A-Basin assessed the cover on High Noon and pulled the trigger first Friday.

Loveland personnel were magnanimous in defeat, firing up a lift of their own on Saturday and opening an intermediate run and terrain park in answer to their rivals. "There is a little bit of a pride factor involved in the fact that we've held the title for the past six years, but we're just happy that the ski season is starting," said spokesman John Sellers.

Industry Report has heard, however, that the mountains were keeping a close eye on each other in the hours before they opened, though neither cared to comment formerly about the "snow surveillance."

Colorado Ski Country USA shrugged off mention off any mention of spying and said the annual competition is a great way to grab national attention for the state's 26 ski resorts.

"We'll get a significant amount of national press out of this," said spokeswoman Molly Cuffe. "It really helps create early-season momentum, and it sets the tone for the rest of the season."

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