WILMINGTON, N.Y. --- Carve some turns before carving the turkey. That’s what Thursday, Nov. 24, was all about at Whiteface Mountain, in Wilmington, N.Y. For the second consecutive season, the Olympic mountain opened Thanksgiving Day and several hundred skiers and riders made turns before settling around the dinner table.

Tim Dulka (Jay, N.Y.), and his son Rowan, where among the group waiting for first tracks on Whiteface Mountain’s trails for opening day. “Opening day is awesome, it’s what I’ve been waiting for, it’s ski season, it’s here. What else can you say? There’s snow and it’s time to go play.”

U.S. alpine ski team member Cecily Decker (Saranac Lake, N.Y.), who just returned home from training in Colorado where there’s little to no snow, was also excited about opening day on her home mountain.

“It’s just great to be here with my family and just have fun and rip around. I’ve been in Colorado for a while, so it’s really cool to come home and see all of this.

“It’s just awesome that we have snow this early in the year and that I can actually come home and ski after not being able to do that much out west.”

The resort’s opening day was originally slated for tomorrow, Friday, Nov. 25, but last weekend’s snow storm and continued snowfall throughout the week brought more than 16-inches of snow to the Olympic mountain. Combined with the cold days and nights, the resort’s crew was able to make snow continuously leading up to today where skiers and riders enjoyed packed powder and groomed conditions.

“We really appreciate all of the staff that’s here today to make this happen, they understand how great it is to be open and get the season kicked off,” remarked Whiteface mountain general manager Aaron Kellett. “There’s been a lot of people who’ve been patient, waiting to ski since April and we appreciate everyone’s efforts to make this happen.”

High clouds, light snow and temperatures in the lower 30’s greeted Thursday’s skiers and riders as they loaded the Cloupdsplitter Gondola before making turns on Excelsior, Summit Express, Upper Valley and Lower Valley trails. The Mixing Bowl and Fox trails were also available to beginners.  

Lift ticket prices for the remainder of the holiday weekend are $64 for adults, $52 for teens and seniors. Juniors can ski and ride for just $42. Trails and lifts are subject to change this weekend, so log onto www.whiteface.com before heading out to the mountain.

Both Belleayre Ski Resort, Highmount, N.Y., and Gore Mountain, North Creek, N.Y., kick off their seasons at 10 a.m. tomorrow.  Belleayre opens with the Onteora and Running Bear trails and two lifts operating, while Gore has five trails available. Foxlair, Sunway, Quicksilver, 3b and Jamboree, are expected to open, serviced by the Northwoods Gondola.

Lift tickets this weekend at Belleayre are $42, while at Gore, opening weekend prices are just $38 for adults, $29 for teens and seniors and $23 for juniors when guests donate a non-perishable food item while purchasing their ticket.

ADDITIONAL QUOTES

New York State Olympic Regional Development Authority president and CEO Ted Blazer, said, "Every opening day presents its own unique challenges. The staff met each one head-on and I couldn’t be any prouder of them. There’s a tremendous amount of energy here today and it’s exciting to be a part of that.

“It’s great to have all three ski areas open, to include Belleayre and Gore, on Thanksgiving weekend as we usher in what looks to be an exciting 2016-’17 season.”

Mike LeBlanc, Whiteface Mountain assistant general manager, said, “It’s opening day, I was born and raised a skier and I’m always happy on opening day. It’s exciting to see people walking into the base lodge’s doors with smiles on their faces and snow falling, it can’t get any better.”

Town of Wilmington supervisor Randy Preston said, “It’s the event that we all look forward to. I really want to thank the staff that’s here today to make this day possible. We got plenty of snow all this week and the conditions are ideal, they couldn’t be better.”

Peter Rogers, Saranac Lake, N.Y., said, “I couldn’t wait to get out here a day early and get a couple of runs in before Thanksgiving. I’m taking one to two runs today, I have a daughter, who I’m going to take skating later today. So I’m not taking many runs, I’m just looking to have some fun and get on the mountain for opening day.”

Photos from opening day at Whiteface (Courtesy of ORDA/ Whiteface Lake Placid) can be found HERE.

-- ORDA --

Established in 1982, the New York State Olympic Regional Development Authority (ORDA) was created by the State of New York to manage the facilities used during the 1980 Olympic Winter Games at Lake Placid. ORDA operates Whiteface, Belleayre and Gore Mountain ski areas; the Olympic Sports Complex at Mt. Van Hoevenberg; the Olympic speed skating oval, Olympic jumping complex and Olympic arena. As host to international and national championships, the Authority has brought millions of athletes, spectator and participants to the region, resulting in significant economic development.