Ski Ward in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts is the first ski area in North America to open for the 2023-24 season, according to Unofficial Networks, a ski and snowboard blog, and POWDER Magazine.

The ski area officially opened on Sunday, Oct. 22, thanks to its newly acquired all-weather snowmaking technology that is able to make snow when temperatures are as high as 76 degrees Fahrenheit.

With Ski Ward opening, Arapahoe Basin Ski Area was officially beaten out of the honor of being the first ski area to open in North America. A-Basin routinely competes for the first-to-open bragging rights, along with Keystone Resort and Loveland Ski Area, but since Colorado was beat this year, A-Basin COO Alan Henceroff congratulated the East Coast resort when he heard the news.

“With $5 tickets, a couple groomer widths of snow and a carpet, skiers and riders are sliding in New England,” Henceroth wrote on Tuesday, Oct. 24. “Kudos to Ski Ward for offering up some good, slippery fun.”

While some ski resorts in Summit County began making snow in September, autumn has brought warm and dry weather to much of the region. A recent warm spell put a damper on snowmaking expectations in Summit County, delaying ski areas’ plans to open as soon as possible. Staff members at Loveland, Keystone and Arapahoe Basin are working to open to open as soon as possible, according to recent Summit Daily News reports.

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