Arizona Snowbowl announces start date for 2017-18 ski season
Aug 24, 2017, 11:15 AM | Updated: 11:20 am
(Arizona Snowbowl Photo)
PHOENIX — It may still be summer but Arizona Snowbowl didn’t let that trivial fact stop it from announcing its ski season opening date on Thursday.
In a release, the resort near Flagstaff said it expected to start welcoming skiers and snowboarders on Nov. 10.
“It may only be August, but everyone at Snowbowl is already hard at work and excited to open,” J.R. Murray, the resort’s general manager, said.
Snowbowl said it expected to be the first ski resort in Arizona to open its season this year, thanks primarily to its snowmaking system that covers 65 percent of the mountain.
“With our advanced snowmaking system, we’re able to get ski season started early,” Murray said.
Last season was the longest ever on Snowbowl’s slopes. It remained open into May.
The resort said it would unveil both a new lift and restaurant this season.
The new lift replaced the 36-year-old Hart Prairie lift with one that is two times larger.
The old lift could only carry two people per chair. The new one will carry four people per chair and will add restraining bars and foot rests.
The restaurant will open near the Grand Canyon Express lift. It will seat 300 people and serve Mexican and barbecue foods.