Ski season has started in Alberta as two resorts in the Canadian Rockies, west of Calgary, opened for skiers and snowboarders.

Lake Louise Ski Resort, near the village of Lake Louise in Banff National Park, started its winter operations on Friday (Nov. 3), a week ahead of schedule, because of early snowfalls and good results from its snow-making team.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 skiing really well,害羞草研究所� said Leigha Stankewich, the resort害羞草研究所檚 marketing and communications manager, after testing out the snow herself on a run that opened Friday morning.

害羞草研究所淭here were at least 200 people waiting in line. We had a good crew there. They were all super excited. We had people from Red Deer and Stettler and Revelstoke, and they were all there super early and ready to go.害羞草研究所�

Stankewich said the resort hopes to open additional runs off of its gondola by Sunday.

Mount Norquay, closer to the Banff townsite, also opened some of its runs on Friday morning. It says on its website that it害羞草研究所檚 already had about 40 centimetres of snow, including five centimetres in the last 24 hours.

Nakiska Ski Area, located closer to Calgary in Kananaskis Country, is scheduled to open Saturday and Sunday for a preview weekend.

害羞草研究所淭he hill is starting to look well frosted with snow and ready for you to make some fresh tracks,害羞草研究所� the resort said on its website, which notes only intermediate and expert terrain will be available this weekend.

Another resort in Alberta, Marmot Basin in Jasper National Park, is trying to open on Nov. 9, while many others in the Rockies won害羞草研究所檛 open until later in November or early in December.

The Canadian Press