Between 5,000 and 6,000 came out for the first day of skiing at Mammoth. Normally the first day attracts 500

At least a dozen ski areas in at least six countries have opened earlier than expected because of heavy snow, or consistent low temperatures to allow snow making, or a combination of both.
Austria saw the most of the heavy snowfalls in the latter half of last week with the glacier ski area of Tux claiming the biggest accumulated snowfall of an incredible 1.8 metres (six feet) over the past week, with the Molltal glacier not far behind with 1.4m (nearly five feet).
Although many regular Austrian resorts have reported up to two feet (60cm) of snow on their slopes, only one is reported to have started running their lifts early as a result, it was reported that the Planai above Schladming had its earliest ever opening this weekend.
Cross-country skiers as well as those prepared to hike up hill have been taking advantage of the snow though, the Austrian biathlon team were reported to be enjoying training on two feet of new snow at Seefeld in Tirol.
In Scandinavia resorts have opened in Finland, Norway and Sweden thanks to now and cold weather. Ruka in Finland claimed to be the first non-glacier resort in Europe to open for ‘winter’ 2009-10 last Wednesday. A number of resorts in Norway and Sweden opened last Saturday including Funadalen, one of Sweden’s leading resorts.
Across the Atlantic at least five resorts have opened in the US on both East and west costs. Sunday River was the first to open on the East and Mammoth Mountain was the first of the big guns to open on the West, both offered free skiing on opening day. They join Loveland and Arapahoe Basin in Colorado and Donner Summit in California, which have been open a week now.
Elsewhere fresh snow has been reported in Japan, and the Indian Himalayas. In Canada Mont-Saint-Sauveur and Calgary Olympic Park opened last week. Temperatures in Scotland  have been dipping below zero in the Highlands with precipitation expected over the next few days.

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