Skiing at Belleayre in the Catskills starts Nov. 29. (
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(AP) New York's three state-owned ski centers are opening for the season. Whiteface Mountain in Wilmington and Gore Mountain in North Creek open for the season on Nov. 15. Belleayre, in the Catskills, is expected to open on Nov. 29. The started for Nordic skiers on Nov. 16 at the Mount Van Hoevenberg trail system. New this year are radio-frequency Ski 3 "smart cards'' that allow guests to go directly to the lift, with a chip signaling the gate to open for instant access. The card can be loaded from home and will be functional at Belleayre, Gore and Whiteface. The Olympic Regional Development Authority has begun snowmaking at all three ski mountains in preparation for opening day.