Though temperatures in Denver [2] might soar above 70 degrees today, ski season officially began at 9 a.m. That's when Chair 1 started its ascent at Loveland Ski Area, which has once again won the annual race to be the first resort to open in North America, reports 9News [3]. While there's already been plenty of snow in the high country, Loveland cheated a bit, working its snow-making equipment hard since September 21 to give the area its earliest opening day in 40 years, according to the Denver Business Journal [4]. Lift tickets are selling for $44. Arapahoe Basin, meanwhile, will open on Friday---the earliest opening day in that resort's history.