GEORGETOWN, Colo. -- Loveland Ski Area plans to be the first ski area in North America to open for the 2009-2010 ski season Wednesday.

Loveland began making snow on Sept. 21.

"We took advantage of the cold temperatures and got an early start making snow this year. Those extra days paid off and we are opening a week earlier than last season," said Eric Johnstone, snowmaking and trail maintenance manager. "Now we can move some equipment to other trails and try to open more terrain as quickly as possible."

Wednesday would be the earliest opening day at Loveland Ski Area in 40 years.

"We are proud of our snowmaking crew and extremely excited to offer the first skiing and snowboarding in Colorado and North America," said Rob Goodell, director of business operations. "Skiers and riders have been waiting all summer for this day and we are anxious to fire up the lifts. We are opening a week earlier than last year but the coverage is great! We will open with an 18-inch base and tree-to-tree coverage on our opening day run."

For the first turns of the season, skiers and snowboarders will have access to a top-to-bottom run consisting of 1,000 vertical feet via Chair 1. The trails Catwalk, Mambo and Homerun make a run which is over a mile in length.

Loveland is located above the Eisenhower Tunnel, along Interstate 70, west of Denver.