DENVER – The University of Denver alpine ski team opened its season today with its first practice at Loveland Ski Area.

The 1,800 acres of terrain at Loveland is entering its seventh season as the home of the Pioneers.

"Loveland has been the home training mountain for the Denver ski team for seven years now," said alpine head coach Andy LeRoy. "They are our single biggest advantage in the sport being so close to the Continental Divide and having access to it as one of the first to open in the country."

The Crimson and Gold are able to take full advantage of all Loveland has to offer with its high elevation, great staff, and snow making abilities with local experts and professionals from New Zealand.

"Then even when they close to the public in May, they reopen to us for the next six weeks for us to train up until our last day of school in the middle of June. It is an advantage like no other school has and we take advantage every chance we get."

Loveland Basin will open to the public Friday at 9 a.m. (MT) with the trails Catwalk, Mambo, and Home Run.

Denver opens its season this weekend with the World Cup in Soelden, Austria.

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