WILMINGTON, New York — Mother Nature got off to a slow start, but the 2009-10 skiing and riding season at Whiteface is finally here. The Olympic mountain is set to open this Saturday, Dec. 5.

Snow guns having been making snow, preparing Excelsior, Summit Express and Upper Valley for Saturday’s opening day and the mountain’s 52nd winter season. Skiing will be available from the summit of Little Whiteface to mid station, with downloading on the Cloudsplitter Gondola. This is limited to intermediate skiing and beginner terrain will not be available.

Whiteface boasts the East’s greatest vertical drop, and was recently named to the Top Five Resorts in the East in SKI Magazine’s Reader Resort Survey 2010. The mountain also received kudos for Apres Ski Activities (No. 4), Scenery (No. 5), Challenge and Family Programs (No. 6), Lodging (No. 6), Overall Value (No.7), and Terrain/Variety (No. 8 ). Whiteface/Lake Placid also earned the distinction of being #1 in the nation for Off-Hill Activities for the 17th straight year.

Opening day lift tickets are $38 for adults, teens and seniors; and $25 for juniors (7-12). As always, children six and under and seniors 70 and over ski and ride for free any day of the season.

While you’re at Whiteface, don’t forget to purchase your 2009-10 ski and ride season pass, the deadline has been extended to Friday, Dec. 11. Full season passes to both Whiteface and Gore range from $335.00, for youth ages 13 to 22, to just $799.00, for adults. Adult non-holiday passes are available for $649.00, as well as Snow Samplers and Whiteface’s frequent skier cards.

Finally, the first Super Sunday of the season is slated for Dec. 13th. Adult lift ticket are just $35 and the party kicks off with the Hello my name is Rail Jam and the High Peaks Cyclery Tele Demo Day, before moving upstairs to the Cloudspin Lounge for the premier of HIT OR MISS by CS Films. There will also be a live musical performance by Trenchtown Oddities.

For more information on the Olympic venues and events, and for web cams from five locations, please log on to www.whitefacelakeplacid.com.