January 2003 - Travel Steamboat Springs, Colorado, Ski Town USA Steamboat Springs, Colorado, known as Ski Town USA, is famous for its dry, fluffy "champagne powder," small-town friendliness and Olympic medalists. Ski magazine's 2002 Annual Guide of the top 60 ski resorts cites Steamboat as number six. Steamboat has consistently moved up in Ski magazine's ratings - from ninth place to sixth in the last three years. The town is nestled at 6,900 feet, while the ski summit rises to 10,568 feet in the Rockies of northwest Colorado. With nearly 3,000 skiable acres and 142 named trails spreading out over six peaks, Steamboat is said to be one of North America's largest ski mountains. The mountain's terrain also offers great diversity. Thirteen percent of the trails are for beginners, 56 percent for intermediate skiers and 31 percent for advanced skiers. The longest run, "Why Not" is over three miles long. With Hayden's Yampa Valley Regional Airport only 22 miles from the ski resort, Steamboat is now quite accessible. Daily nonstop flights fly into this airport from six major cities (Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Newark, Minneapolis and Denver). There are also direct flights from Atlanta into the Eagle County Airport, 90 miles away. For those who prefer driving, Steamboat is an easy three and a half hour drive from the Denver Airport (180 miles) via I-70 to the Silverthorne exit (#205), then north on Colorado Highway 9 to US 40. Last year, Steamboat celebrated its 40th birthday. Things have not changed much in the town since the development began with Storm Mountain and one poma lift. Residents became concerned about what would happen to their town when the American Skiing Company bought the resort in 1997. The company has expanded the terrain and added three slope-side properties (Christie Club, Sheraton Tower, and Creekside at Torian Plum) along with a quarter-share project and the 327-room Grand Resort Hotel. But Steamboat is still a small town with a population of 9,000. It is also a town that prides itself on its friendly Western hospitality and genteel atmosphere. Marti Willits, a seasoned skier who has visited many ski resorts, joined 60 other members of the Hilton Head Island Ski Club for a club trip to Steamboat last January. "It is not like Aspen and Vail," she explained. "There is nothing fancy about Steamboat. It is a ski resort where you wear jeans and comfortable, warm clothes." "Steamboat is a resort for people who are really into skiing," she added. "Many Olympic champions have come from here, and the townspeople are very proud of that. They take their skiing seriously." Through the years, Steamboat has produced 52 Olympians. The tradition of training world-class athletes in Steamboat dates back to 1915 when Norwegian ski jumping champion Carl Howelson settled in the town and began working with young locals who wanted to become expert competitive skiers. To this day, the resort takes its instruction seriously, and Steamboat's Ski and Snowboard School is considered to be one of the finest in the country. Billy Kidd, Olympic medalist and founder of the Billy Kidd Performance Center, is the Director of Steamboat Ski & Snowboard School. The school offers everything from specially designed programs for kids, teens and adults to bumps clinics, one-, two- and three-day seminars for women only and private instruction. The Billy Kidd Performance Center was created to address the needs of aspiring competitive skiers and motivated recreational skiers who want to move to the next level. Kidd has assembled a staff of world-class coaches and former Olympians who apply the same techniques used to produce world champions. Performance Center instructors work with skiers in small groups. The ratio is six students to one instructor. Kidd is also seen on the mountain a couple of times a week, giving pointers and skiing with guests. Another popular activity is the Ambassador Tour held daily at 10:30 a.m. for an hour and a half. Willits joined one of these tours and said, "It really gives you a feel of the mountain." Jim Botwick, past president of the Hilton Head Ski Club and a participant on the trip, said, "Steamboat is a great mountain to ski. It is very much like skiing at Snowmass." The eight passenger Silver Bullet Gondola goes from the mountain village to midmountain where there are a multitude of green, blue and black runs. "The mountain is mostly good blue trails with many black trails and a few green runs," observed Willits. "We saw people of all generations skiing, from the little tykes to the senior generation." Rated by Ski Magazine as having the best family programs in the West, the resort's Kids Ski Free program allows children under the age of 12, accompanied by a parent or grandparent with a fiveday pass, to ski free. Many package deals, which include air transportation, lift tickets and accommodations in Mountain Village are available for your visit to Steamboat. A sample package, the Spring Snowsaver package, February 23-April 3, 2003, is $517 per person for six nights condo accommodations, and five- day lift ticket based on double occupancy. This and others can be found on the website www.steamboatresorts.com. Skiers who hit the slopes on a powder day will find their skis glide over snow that is lighter and fluffier than in other resorts in the Rockies. Steamboat's powder, known as "champagne powder," has one-fifth the normal moisture content found elsewhere. It is considered to be addictive. In Mountain Village, where there are many places to stay and the gondola is located, properties range from posh to budget. The ski club stayed in a Comfort Inn, which Willits said was "quite adequate." The town is an easy access to Mountain Village via shuttle. Adult lift tickets for 2003 are $64 per day or $295 for a 5-outof 7-day ticket. The regular season ends April 3, when the Spring Value skiing begins. The resort closes for the season on April 13. To experience the Colorado Rockies in a laid back town where skiing and cowboy boots prevail, Steamboat is the place to be. Ski Town USA has managed to preserve its unique appeal. Here's to Steamboat's champagne powder days! ™