LUDLOW, Vermont — Okemo Mountain Resort is slated to open for the start of the 2008/2009 skiing and snowboarding season at 9 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 21.

“The cold weather has really made for some great snowmaking conditions,” says Okemo VP and General Manager Bruce Schmidt. “The Mountain Operations Staff has been hard at work.”

Okemo expects to offer top-to-bottom skiing and riding on six trails on opening day. Count Down, Upper World Cup, Lower World Cup, Link, Fairway and Open Slope will be serviced by three lifts: F-10 Carpet, Sachem Quad and Northstar Express, a high-speed quad.

By Saturday, the number of trails open should double, adding: Lower Mt. Road, Sapphire, Route 103, Upper Arrow, Double Dipper, Lower Arrow. More trails are planned for Sunday.

On opening day, lift tickets will be $55 for adults, $47 for young adults and seniors, and $36 for juniors and super seniors. Half-day tickets will be available starting at 12:30 p.m. Special early-season lift ticket rates will be revised daily according to the availability of terrain as the season progresses.

Base 68 Cafe, The Sitting Bull Lounge and Summit Lodge will be welcoming skiers and riders for hearty food and refreshment starting Friday. The Okemo Express Rental/Repair Shop, Penguin Playground Day Care Center, Okemo Snowsports Shop and Mountain Services Office will open for the season on Saturday, Nov. 22.

Coinciding with opening day, Okemo Mountain Resort’s Annual Ski and Snowboard Sale, located in the Clocktower base lodge, offers a huge variety of equipment and accessories with some of the best deals in ski country. The three-day sale of new and previously owned ski and snowboard equipment, clothing and accessories kicks off Friday evening, Nov. 21 and runs through 1 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 23. A portion of every sale benefits students attending Okemo Mountain School and helps provide scholarships for athletes with financial needs. For more information contact Mariel Meringolo at 802-228-1512, or visit okemo.com.

Skiers and riders can check up-to-date lift ticket rates, weather and surface conditions by visiting okemo.com or by calling Okemo’s 24-hour snowphone at (802) 228-5222. For more information, please call (802) 228-1600.