"Open" is defined as open to the public for continuous operation for the season with at least one chairlift (rope tows don't count).

Resolution criteria

• This market resolves to the first U.S. ski resort that opens to the public for continuous operations for the 2026/2027 ski season.

• "Open" is defined as officially open to the general public for continuous operation for the season with at least one chairlift operating (rope tows and surface lifts do not count).

• Continuous operation means the resort must remain open daily (or for its planned consecutive weekly schedule) following the opening date. Limited-time previews, single-day soft launches, or weekend-only openings that do not transition immediately into continuous weekly/daily operations do not qualify.

• If two or more resorts open on the exact same calendar day, the resort that spins its first public chairlift earliest in local time wins. If a precise time tie cannot be broken, the market will resolve proportionally.

• Resolution will be based on official announcements from the resorts' websites/social media channels, verified by reports from reputable ski industry outlets such as GearJunkie,SnowBrains, POWDER Magazine, or OnTheSnow.

• If any resort other than Keystone Ski Area, Loveland Ski Area, or Arapahoe Basin Ski Area opens first, the market resolves to Someplace Else.

Background

• The annual "race to open" in the United States is traditionally contested by high-altitude Colorado resorts, with Keystone, Arapahoe Basin, and Loveland frequently trading the title.

• In the 2025/2026 season, Keystone Resort claimed the title of first to open in North America on October 25, 2025, narrowly beating Arapahoe Basin.

• Some East Coast or Midwest resorts occasionally attempt extremely early openings using specialized all-weather snowmaking technology, but these often rely on rope tows or temporary operations that may not meet the chairlift and continuous operation criteria of this market.