COPPER MOUNTAIN - Copper Mountain Ski Resort will kick off its opening weekend Nov. 3 through 5 with live music, film premieres, ski and snowboard demos and giveaways.

"We're thrilled," said Lauren Pelletreau, spokeswoman for the resort. "This Lift Off will really get the season off to the right start."

Free screenings of new ski and snowboard films will be featured on opening night.

As the weekend continues, Blackalicious, the Drew Emmitt Band, Strive Roots and White Water Ramble will play. The outdoor day shows Saturday and Sunday are free. Black Pegasus will open for Blackalicious Saturday night, and tickets for that show are $10 at the door of Copper Conference Center or in advance at Copper's Adventure Desk.

"All the work we're doing at the mountain is in anticipation of opening day and the entire season," Pelletreau said.

Other ski resorts throughout the area are also getting ready to kick off the season.

Down south, Wolf Creek Ski Area will celebrate its earliest opening ever Friday with 57 inches of snowfall from September and October. They have 15 inches of natural snow at the midway and 25 inches at the summit, according to a press release.

The weekend following Copper Mountain's Lift Off, Breckenridge and Keystone ski resorts will celebrate their openings.

Breckenridge will start opening day with a free pancake breakfast at Beaver Run. Also, all lift tickets sales from Nov. 10 will go toward local charities, said Nicky DeFord, spokeswoman for Breckenridge.

Winter Park is the next to open on Nov. 15 with Vail following Nov. 17. Beaver Creek Ski Resort and Steamboat Ski Resort will open Nov. 22, Aspen Mountain and Snowmass will open Nov. 23, and Aspen Highlands and Buttermilk will open Dec. 9.

Arapahoe Basin Ski Area was the first to open Oct. 12 with Loveland Ski Area following the next day.



Opening Days

- Arapahoe Basin Ski Area and Loveland Ski Area are already open.

- Wolf Creek Ski Area, Oct. 27

- Copper Mountain, Nov. 3

- Breckenridge Ski Resort and Keystone Ski Resort, Nov. 10

- Winter Park, Nov. 15

- Vail Ski Resort, Nov. 17

- Beaver Creek Ski Resort and Steamboat Ski Resort, Nov. 22

- Aspen Mountain and Snowmass Ski Resort, Nov. 23

- Aspen Highlands and Buttermilk, Dec. 9



Copper Mountain Lift Off schedule

- Opening day, Nov. 3

9 a.m. to 3 p.m. - Demo center at Burning Stones Plaza, Lift Off chair prizes at American Eagle Chairlift

5 p.m. to finish - Film premieres of "Wear it Well" from White Out Films, "Steady As She Snows" and "Thanks For Nothing" from FYC Pictures, "When in Doubt, Lay It Out" from Role Model Productions, and "Last Winter" from the UK-based Chunkyknit Productions

- Nov. 4

8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. - Lift Off chair prizes at American Eagle Chairlift

9 a.m. to 3 p.m. - Demo Center at Burning Stones Plaza

Noon to 1:30 p.m. - Opening Act at Burning Stones Plaza

2-3 p.m. - Drew Emmitt Band at Burning Stones Plaza

8:30-9:30 p.m. - Black Pegasus at Copper Conference Center

9:45-11 p.m. - Blackalicious at Copper Conference Center

- Nov. 5

8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. - Lift Off chair prizes at American Eagle Chairlift

9 a.m. to 3 p.m. - Demo Center at Burning Stones Plaza

Noon to 1:30 p.m. - White Water Ramble at Burning Stones Plaza

2-3:30 p.m. - Strive Roots at Burning Stone Plaza

- All day Nov. 3 to 5- apres parties throughout The Village at Copper



Lory Pounder can be reached at (970) 668-4628 or at lpounder@summitdaily.com