Arapahoe Basin ski area will open on Wednesday, marking the third consecutive year it’s been first to kick off the nation’s ski season.
  With an 18-inch base, the intermediate High Noon run and some features of the High Divide Terrain Park will be open to visitors at 9 a.m, according to A-Basin spokes­woman Leigh Hierholzer.
  The race to open is worth about $500,000 in publicity, Hierholzer said.
  “It goes on the Weather Channel, in local newspapers, TV, radio. It goes overseas to Rome and Paris. It goes global,” she said.
  Though the highly anticipated opening will come weeks before most of Colorado’s other resorts open, the ski area set a record for its earliest opening last year, when the lift began running on Oct. 10.
  Next in line, Loveland Ski Area is expected to open perhaps as early as this week.
  “As of right now, we still do not have a date set. We’re working as hard and fast as we can,” said spokesperson Duncan Maxwell, adding that an announcement can be expected in the next few days.
  “We got a couple natural inch­es over the weekend, but we strive to have an 18-inch base — tree to tree, top to bottom,” he said “They’re pretty strict standards, but we feel customers really appreciate that extra depth.”
  Jennifer Rudolph, spokes­woman for Colorado Ski Country USA, said that to qualify as the first ski area to open in Colorado, one must stay open consecutively for the remainder of the season.
  “Generally, it gives the resort bragging rights for the next year to have the title of ‘first,’” she said. “Considering that the ski industry is a large contributor to Colorado tourism and the overall economy, we consider it pretty big news.”
  On Wednesday, Arapahoe Basin will operate only the Exhibi­tion chairlift.
  Tickets on opening day will cost $49 for adults, $44 for youths ages 15 to 19 and $25 for children ages 6 to 14.
  There will be no beginner skiing available.
  The ski and snowboard rental shop, food and beverage service, the 6th Alley bar and retail shop will be open to the public. Lessons will begin when the Molly Hogan Learn­ing Center opens later in November. Colorado had 12.5 million skier days last season, just off the record of 12.6 million skier days set the year before, according to Colorado Ski Country USA.
  Breckenridge and Vail ranked one and two for most skier visits in the state last season, with 1.63 mil­lion and 1.57 million respectively.
  A-Basin officials anticipate that the new Montezuma Bowl, 400 acres of groomed runs, glades, chutes and open-bowl skiing, can open for the season in early January.
  The Rocky Mountain News contributed to this report.