by Gina Bégin

Brighton, UT – A day early and not a moment too soon for skiers longing to enjoy Utah’s famous snow, Brighton Ski Resort opened today a day ahead of schedule after numerous early season storms teased the locals. The early opening marked the start of the ski and snowboard season in Utah.n“Everyone said it was the perfect day,” said Jared Winkler, Brighton’s representative for Marketing and Public Relations. “Guests were stoked that we opened early. We had no complaints about lines or conditions. We’ve had a few good storms here and people were eager [to ski].”

When asked about his prediction for the upcoming season, Winkler smiled and answered, “It’s gonna be good. La Nina, El Nino – either way the Cottonwoods always get their 500 inches.”

The day opened with overcast skies and light snow falling down on the crowd waiting in line at the Majestic chair, one of two chairlifts along with Snake Creek to open for the occasion. Claiming a more than 30-inch base at mid-mountain and extending from the main runs to off piste, many skiers agreed that this was one of the best opening days they had experienced in memory.

Gina Quigley, a Brighton local, was happy that she skipped her trip to Chicago in favor of skiing on Thursday.

“This is my sixth season at Brighton; this is the best coverage and best snow on opening day that I’ve been here for,” Quigley said. “I honestly didn’t think it would be this good and planned to stay only three runs, but instead ending up spending the entire afternoon here.”

For some, it’s not so much about where opening day is, but just to make sure that they’re there. Jason Frazier, a native of nearby Salt Lake City and a semi-pro skier in the International Freeskier Association noted that although he usually skis next door at Solitude, for him skiing Utah’s opening day, wherever it is, is a tradition.

“This is a way better opening day than ones in the past,” Frazier said. “The snow is soft. I usually come up and it’s windblown and manmade. Today it’s awesome.”

Planning on hitting up Solitude for the shared opening day on Friday, Frazier quickly switched plans to accommodate his yearly ritual when he caught wind of Brighton’s early opening. He was not disappointed.

Many of the trails visited time and time again by skiers on Thursday were off-piste. Though rocks could still be found hiding under the powder stashes, shouts of excitement seemed more prevalent than groans from the occasional rock run-in. Kalen Hartman, of Lansdale, Penn., described his experience with the plentiful snow.

“It’s not ice which is all we get back east,” Hartman said. All this powder is exhausting!”

Brighton sweetened their opening day deal with a free ski pass for veterans and active Armed Forces personnel in honor of Veterans Day. Chris Cain of Texas, James Pearson of New York, and Anthony Creasey from West Virginia, all active Air Force personnel residing at Utah’s Hill Air Force Base near Ogden from which they usually ski Powder Mountain, all came out to give Brighton a try for the first time because of the free pass. All three men said that they would probably not have tried Brighton were it not for the free lift ticket and are now looking forward to trying Brighton again later in the season when more terrain opens.

Claiming this was the first they had heard of a “Ski Free” pass for members of the Armed Forces, they mentioned how excited the personnel were to hear about the opportunity and quickly spread the news via Facebook. Cain, pointing to a few other military peers in the proximity, mentioned how the base was abuzz with talk about the ski day and when asked what they were doing for Veteran’s Day, “everyone said they were coming [skiing at Brighton].”

With Brighton’s opening day holding so much promise, it looks as though that prediction may very well be true for yet another Utah ski and snowboard season.