China Peak opens earlier than usual

While lots of folks were fighting the shopping crowds on Black Friday, about three thousand came up to hit the slopes, for what they were calling, White Friday."

Comments from a group of young snowboarder's from Fresno included; "Today is awesome. Couldn't have picked a better opening day."

"Conditions are really good. There's so much powder."

"For the first day to have this much powder is pretty crazy."

Despite sunny skies and 45 degrees in the afternoon, the overnight temperatures near zero kept the snow fresh and powdery. New owner Tim Cohee says he couldn't have asked for a better opening day.

"Thanksgiving snowfall like this, with this kind of quality. You can go years and years and not have a start like this."

The resort is adding new comfort features and dining facilities but today for skier Wayne Northrup of Raymond, the only thing that mattered was the snow. "We're having a really great day. This is great."

A snowboarder from Huntington Beach, named Scotty put it this way. "Today we got some gnarly snow, bro and it's really powdery and the snow's just killin' it out here."

Business owners in nearby Shaver Lake were all smiles. The after ski crowds jammed Shaver Lake Pizza...and owner Darla Ronumus couldn't have been happier.

"It's a good thing. I'm loving it. The busier the better, I'm loving the madness."

With more snow on the way it's shaping up to be a great weekend.

Jasmine Mena of Fresno summed it up this way, "It is so much fun, I'm so glad to be up here."