Loveland Ski Area fires up snowmaking guns and world's highest webcam

Loveland Ski Area fires up snowmaking guns and “world’s highest webcam”{mosimage}In an effort to be the first ski area in North America to open (an honor this mountain has earned for three consecutive seasons), Loveland Ski Area commenced snowmaking operations on September 23, 2004. Consistent overnight lows in the 20’s and a volley of recent snowstorms provided the conditions needed to fire up the ski area’s state of the art fleet of fully automated snow guns.

Loveland is perenially the host to ski racers from around the country and the world who are looking for scarce early-season training space. It’s not unusual to find Croatian and Swiss World Cup teams training gates alongside local J-3’s in November, before the World Cup swings through Beaver Creek and Aspen.

To further enhance snowmaking efficiency, Loveland Ski Area contracts the services of some of the best year-round snow makers in the world, who return from New Zealand for the fifth season to cover the mountain trails with the highest quality product possible for opening day.

To keep up with the high volume of requests for snowmaking updates Loveland Ski Area has created an innovative website that provides anxious skiers and riders the ability to view snowmaking progress as it unfolds with continuous snowmaking updates. Visitors to the website will see a trail map showing regularly updated pictures of snowmaking progress, gun placement, live web cams and real time weather forecasts. Visitors to the new site may also sign up to receive the first announcement of opening day.

New this season, Loveland Ski Area in conjunction with the PENTAX Imaging Company has added the “Divide Cam.” Positioned on top of Chair #9, the highest chairlift in the world, the “Divide Cam” offers 360 degree panoramic views from the top of the Continental Divide and is made possible by the PENTAX VersaCam® IC-360 Internet Camera.

“PENTAX is honored and excited that our VersaCam IC-360 Internet Camera is positioned atop Loveland Ski Area to bring unprecedented high altitude Internet images to outdoor enthusiasts.” said Michelle Martin, Public Relations Coordinator, PENTAX Imaging Company.

“Preliminary research shows this is the highest web cam in the world,” says Loveland Marketing Director, Kevin Wright. “It’s placement on the highest chair lift in the world will provide unique views of the ski area, the Continental Divide and distant mountain peaks.”

–Send any questions or suggestions to webeditor@insideinc.com.