SAM Magazine-Mammoth Mountain, Calif., Nov. 9, 2007-More ski resorts are announcing openings by the day, if not the hour. In the Midwest, Ski Brule started winter operations Nov. 7. Another notable addition to the up-and-running club is Mammoth Mountain, which fired up the lifts on Nov. 8 and offers skiers one run with an 8- to 14-inch base of man-made and groomed conditions.

In the east, Boyne USA has opened two of its newest acquisitions-Sugarloaf and Sunday River. Sugarloaf is commencing operations more than a week ahead of schedule, with conditions enhanced by snow earlier this week. The resort has 1,700 vertical feet of terrain on tap, with lift service provided by the Double Runner East and Spillway West lifts. "We have made substantial investment in the latest snowmaking technologies that enable us to make much greater quantities of snow at higher temperatures," said Rich Wilkinson, Sugarloaf's vice president of operations. "As a result, we're open early and expect to be able to open terrain faster than we ever have."

Sunday River is also reaping the rewards of a substantial $1 million upgrade this past summer, part of a $4.8 million resort-wide investment, the largest in a decade. Sunday River opened two weeks ahead of last year's opening date of Nov. 21.

Connecticut ski area Woodbury has also taken advantage of cold temperatures and ramped up snowmaking operations. Currently the ski area has good coverage on its beginner hill, which has a variety of terrain features set up for early season action.

Ski Norquay, Alberta, opened Nov. 3, ahead of bigger neighbors Lake Louise and Sunshine Village, both expected to open by Nov. 10. Norquay's opening came one month ahead of schedule, making it the first resort in Canada to open this season, thanks in part to cooler temperatures toward the end of October.

In Colorado, Keystone, which has been open since Nov. 2, is commencing night skiing operations as of Nov. 9. The resort expects to run the lifts from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily, with approximately 80 acres of terrain currently open. \

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