A-Basin hosts record-breaking number of skiers Sunday

Arapahoe Basin Ski Area looked more like March than May on Sunday as skiers talked about crowds, lift lines, traffic jams and the late-season storm that blessed the ski area with at least 12 inches of powder in three days.

Those factors combined to set a new record Sunday for most A-Basin skier visits in one day.

Spokeswoman Adrienne Saia Isaac wouldn’t give out skier numbers, citing company policy, but she said the ski area scanned 15 percent more season passes and lift tickets than it did on A-Basin’s previous record-high day set five years ago on April 24, 2010.

“Not only was it surprising to see that many people so interested in skiing in May, but the quality of the snow was really quite good for the spring,” she said.

Through the rest of the season, she recommended weekend skiers and riders alleviate congestion in the parking lots and on the roads and be environmentally friendly by carpooling or taking the free Summit Stage, which will serve the ski area through Sunday, May 24.

People can pick up the Swan Mountain Flyer from Breckenridge or Keystone. The Summit Stage leaves River Run at the top of the hour from 7 a.m. until 5 p.m. and returns from A-Basin at 10 after with the last bus leaving at 5:10 p.m.

She also recommended arriving early. Breakfast at A-Basin starts at 7:30 a.m., and the base area lifts open at 8:30 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays and 9 a.m. on weekdays.

The ski area is scheduled to close June 7 and has closed in July in years past. In 2014, the ski area closed June 22.