Training underway in Colorado, despite thin snowSki areas around the west are open, and elite racers from around the world are racing and training alongside club teams and academies. Some national teams have run off to Canada to find training space at the last minute, but many have stayed put.

Beaver Creek opened on Saturday, with one run open. Race organizers there are blowing snow for the alpine World Cups scheduled for early December. Earlier this week, U.S. Ski Team athletes were glide testing on the flat upper sections of the hill.

Over at Copper Mountain, national teams have been training on the Main Vein in early morning sessions, while club teams such as Ski Club Vail and NYSEF have been lane training on Copperopolis during the afternoons. Some of the U.S. Disabled Team was on the hill too.

Down the road in Loveland, the mountain has been open for weeks, and national teams from all over have been racing. Hermann Maier of Austria was there earlier in the week.