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The week leading up to opening day was an interesting one. Snow was falling around the country and we really had no idea who was going to open for the season first or when that day would drop. But when we got word last Friday that Arapahoe Basin would be opening on Sunday, October 13, a full week before the 2012/13 season opener, everyone in the office started jonesing as the season was finally here.

So what made this year that much better than last year? Weather of course! Last year’s weather was, how should I say it, shitty. But this year was all time: 60-degree temps, sunny blue skies and a perfectly groomed WROD (White Ribbon of Death) made for one killer first day back on snow.

We made our way around the usual time of 6:00am from Boulder and enjoyed the no-traffic ride west on I-70, something we might never see again for the rest of the season. Once there, Bacon Bloody Marys were a must before heading over to watch the first chair celebration.

This year was no surprise as local legend Nate Dogggg and crew claimed first chair for the 18th year in a row. Camping out from 1pm the Friday that A-Basin announced the opening and through the weekend is no easy feat. But these guys are diehard and nothing will stop them from claiming first chair every year. I don’t even want to know what would happen if someone tried to snipe their spot in line. Let’s just say it wouldn’t be pretty.

Like most years, A-Basin’s High Noon trail was open from the top of the Black Mountain Express and hosted a small, four feature park that included two down rails, a down box and a flat down box, a perfect setup to get the legs back.

As it was a Sunday, the park was jam packed with locals throwing down like the previous season never ended and the bar was going off as the line for A-Basin’s notorious “Mug Club” – the mug club of all mug clubs – ran out the door and on to the patio.

As more snow is in the forecast for Colorado, there’s no better time to put away the mountain bike and head to A-Basin. Whether that be for your first turns or two potent Bacon Bloody Marys, we’ll leave that up to you.