The ski season is officially under way in Colorado.

Skiers and snowboarders kicked off the season Oct. 23 at Arapahoe Basin.

Powderhorn Mountain Resort on Grand Mesa east of Grand Junction is scheduled to open Nov. 25.

“We all look forward to opening day every season, and we’re glad to see folks getting out on the slopes at Arapahoe Basin,” said Melanie Mills, president and chief executive officer of Colorado Ski Country USA, a trade association of 22 resorts.

“Skiers and riders can look forward to a fantastic ski season complete with new lifts, incredible dining options and behind-the-scenes improvements that add up to an amazing experience in Colorado ski country USA,” Mills said.

At Powderhorn, the improvements include a new beginner area surface lift. The resort also worked on snowmaking infrastructure.

The season will mark a number of milestones for Colorado ski resorts, including 60th anniversaries at Steamboat and Eldora, a 55th anniversary at Sunlight and 50th at Telluride. Colorado Ski Country USA itself will mark 60 years in operation.

Colorado Ski Country USA member resorts are coming off a record season for skier visits — an industry metric equivalent to one person skiing or snowboarding for one day.

Colorado Ski Country USA announced in June skier visits at its 22 member ski resorts increased 14 percent during the 2021-22 season. The trade association projected a statewide skier visitation record, edging out the previous record of 13.8 million visits in 2018-19 by a few hundred thousand. 

Skier visits during the 2020-21 season totaled 12 million. 

Colorado saw a slow start to the 2021-22 season, with many resorts not receiving significant snowfall until mid-December. Several resorts pushed back their openings. Once resorts opened, their teams were hit by the Omicron variant of the COVID-19 virus, resulting in staffing challenges just as skiers and snowboarders arrived for the holidays. Snow totals picked up in the second half of the season. A busy February and snowy March and April brought a change of pace from the early winter months.