California ski resorts: Opening day at Mammoth brings dusting of snow

It’s official: Ski season in California has started. Snow flurries spun around Mammoth Mountain resort Thursday morning as skiers and boarders cheered the first chair lift that broke through an opening-day banner.

Mammoth is among the first resorts in the Sierra to open for the winter season. The first 50 people received free lift tickets to ski and ride the 12- to 16-inch base of natural and man-made snow, a resort statement says. The Broadway Express lift was running, and 10 jibs and one jump were set up in the Unbound Terrain Park on the 11,053-foot peak.

“I may be soaked to the bone but taking turns like that put my soul back in one piece again,” snowboard blogger Neev Zaiet tweeted about opening day.

Farther north in the Lake Tahoe area, Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe near Reno opened last Nov. 7 -- earlier than Mammoth -- but only for the weekend, not the entire season. Mt. Rose plans to open 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday through Sunday and charge $10 for lift tickets.

Other Tahoe resorts like Heavenly and Northstar have set opening dates of Nov. 21. Squaw Valley plans to open five days later.