Las Vegas, NV – After first opening for a brief sneak preview last month, Las Vegas Ski & Snowboard Resort (LVSSR) will kick off its full 2011-12 season this Friday, a week ahead of schedule.

Lifts and lift ticket offices, located at the base lodge, will open at 9 a.m. Three chairlifts and one surface lift that serve LVSSR’s 16 trails and The Strip, the area’s freestyle terrain park will run until 4 p.m. Amenities such as The Sports Shop, The Big Horn Café and The Bristlecone Lounge will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

“This marks the first time in years that LVSSR will be opening for the season with all three lifts operating and enough snow to accommodate a variety of features in our all terrain park,” says Kevin Stickelman, president and general manager of LVSSR. He notes that the area is adding several terrain park features to Rabbit Peak, its beginner slope area. “Our increased snowmaking capacity as well as recent storms are making it possible for us to be able to open ahead of schedule.”

LVSSR had originally scheduled its opening day for Friday, Nov. 25.  Lift ticket prices this weekend will be at the normal season rates of $60 for adults and $40 for children and seniors. Half day rates are available beginning at noon.

“With our expansion plan in motion, on opening day guests will see a variety of changes already in place, including our patio that has been expanded to 5,000 square feet, a hospitality yurt and two additional yurts that serve our expanded youth ski school and beginner programs,” explains Stickelman.

This summer, LVSSR initiated a $35 million master development plan that will expand the number of trails to 50 and lifts to 10 once completed over the next 10 to 12 years.   In addition to the new features that Stickelman mentions, other additions already in place this season are five new high-efficiency snowmaking guns, a youth racing program that runs for eight weeks in January and February and NASTAR, the National Standard Race grassroots ski race program.