SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (ABC 4 News) - After a dry and difficult season last year, which hurt Utah ski resorts and the state's bottom line, Brighton is officially open, with plenty of powder. It's the first of five ski resorts that plan on opening this week.
Normally most resorts in Utah don't open until the week of Thanksgiving, but this year's early opening is a good sign of things to come for local ski and snowboard retailers.
"It's really good news for us. Yea, we're excited. We're hoping for a really good season," said Jody Revill, a manager at Utah Ski and Golf in downtown Salt Lake.
Last weekend's record powder drop across the Wasatch is giving the ski industry a much needed shot in the arm. After last year's drier than normal season, both retailers and resorts alike are hoping for better snowfall this year. "Last year was definitely not the best year," said Revill.
Revill says her shop has seen a jump in sales since the recent snowfall. "We're doing season rentals already. We're selling stuff, so it's a little bit of everything already," said Revill.
According to Ski Utah the biggest week for sales during the season falls between Christmas and New Year's.
Solitude plans to open tomorrow on Nov. 14th.
Snowbird will open Nov. 15th. Altan and Brian Head will both open on Nov. 16th and Park City will open on the 17th.
For a look at other resort openings, check here.
http://www.skiutah.com/winter/index.html 
