If Eldora Ski Resort is the Colorado Buffaloes' home mountain, Steamboat might as well be "home mountain A."

Six Buffs grew up skiing mainly at Steamboat, which is why they ought to feel plenty comfortable at their own Colorado Invitational this weekend even though Eldora is where CU does most of its training.

The CU ski team opens its 2008 campaign with the alpine portion of the Colorado Invitational on Saturday and Sunday.

CU coach Richard Rokos decided to hold the meet at Steamboat this year to get a head start on his team's trip to Park City, Utah, for the Utah Invitational Jan. 11-12. The Nordic portion of CU's invite will be held at Winter Park Jan. 19-20 because of a scheduling conflict with Steamboat's Nordic course.

"It will be a good race," Rokos said. "(Steamboat's) home for many of the athletes so we should be able to call it our turf."

Nine teams will compete at Steamboat, including six of the top 10 from last year's NCAA championships. Denver, the 2007 national runner-up, heads the field, while New Mexico, Utah and Montana State bring traditionally strong squads.

The Buffs, who were third at the NCAAs last year, return all but one of their alpine skiers from last year. Kristin Taylor graduated off the women's squad, while the men return everyone.

Senior Lucie Zikova, whowas second in the women's slalom at the 2007 NCAAs, has skied a couple of world cups this winter, while freshman Katie Hartman from Breckenridge has also been solid so far. Drew Roberts and Stefan Hughes figure to be strong early for the men alpiners.

"The team is well-balanced," Rokos said. "We don't have any extremes but we also don't really have any deficiencies."