Ski Steamboat - Guide to Skiing and Snowboarding in Steamboat
Ski Steamboat - Ski Resort and Snowsport Summary
Steamboat, USA (2100m to 3220m)
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Steamboat Ski Facts
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Steamboat in brief
The American ski resort of Steamboat has direct access to 105km of downhill skiing, with 142 individual pistes, served by 20 ski lifts.
The ski resort itself is above 1500m, so skiing or boarding back to the resort is usually possible. With pistes above 2500 metres, skiing and snowboarding is assured throughout the season.
Ski Lift Capacity :- The 20 Ski Lifts of Steamboat are able to uplift 36,195 skiers / snowboarders per hour.
Skiing in Steamboat
Steamboat is actually a complete mountain range: Mt. Werner, Sunshine Peak, Storm Peak, Thunderhead Peak and Christie Peak. 1176 hectares (2,939 acres)of permitted terrain offer a diversity of trails for all ability levels. Gladed areas of Pioneer Ridge, Sunshine and Storm Peak are Steamboat's particular claim to fame, with Champagne Powder in the trees for the most avid powder hounds. The Alarm Clock trail from the top of Mt. Werner gives you nearly a 360 degree view of the surrounding mountain ranges including: Gore Range, Flat Tops, Buffalo Pass, Park Range, Rawah Range, Never Summer Mountain, the southern tip of the Medicine Bow Range and part of the Mummy Range - eight different mountain ranges from one location!
As you would expect from a world class ski centre of this standard, Steamboat offers great skiing for all ability levels. Beginners have gentle runs by Christie Base. The Bashor area has some lovely green runs and the Sunshine Peak is ideal for improvers. Intermediates have equally excellent opportunities with Buddy's Run, a long cruiser from Storm Peak one of the best on the mountain.
Experts will find dozens of trails to challenge and excite. Storm Peak is a particular mecca with moguls and powder fields. Alternatively look at the bumper migration trail, christened The BMT by Steamboat locals. It is comprised of a series of trails located off of Four Points that allows you to ski bumps the entire day. You won't find it on the map or any trail signs for the BMT, so you'll need to be lucky enough to catch up with, follow and ski with some of Steamboat's famous bump skiers to find out where this super bump route lies.
For racers recreational NASTAR is held daily at the Bashor Race Area. The NASTAR Race Clinic offers 2-hour race class with coaching, video analysis and 2-run NASTAR race. The Budweiser King of the Hill, located in Bashor offer racers a coin-operated, dual race format for $1/per run.
Steamboat's snowcats will accommodate a total of twelve skiers in warmth and comfort for a day of guaranteed untracked champagne powder on the wide open snow fields of Buffalo Pass, near the Continental Divide. Even intermediates can enjoy powder snow on the new wide skis. The Billy Kidd Centre for Performance Skiing runs along side the resort's Perfect Turn course of regular ski lessons (which are designed to the successful model practiced at all American Skiing Company resorts).
Steamboat's Director of Skiing, Olympic Silver Medalist and World Champion, Billy Kidd's Center provides personalized coaching, with intensive programs carefully planned for youth, teens and adults in racing, moguls, parallel skiing improvement and more.
The resort's newest trails, featuring even more of Steamboat's legendary tree skiing and riding, are available in Pioneer Ridge, bringing the expansion area's total trail count to twenty. Skiers and riders will enjoy a variety of most difficult, more difficult and gladed terrain.
In keeping with Steamboat's western heritage the majority of the named trails reflect the old west theme or that of the early pioneers of the Steamboat Ski Area. Upon final completion, Pioneer Ridge will total 770 acres/308 hectares of terrain serviced by two chairlifts.
You can try out new skis at the Steamboat Ski & Sport Guided Demo Centers, located in the yurt at the top of the gondola, and in the lower level of the Sheraton, slopeside across from the Headwall and Preview lifts. Super Sidecut Skis can be tested out on a guided tour.
For cross country skiers there are many kilometers of marked trails to choose from on Rabbit Ears Pass, accommodating novices and experts alike. The Ski Touring Center offers 30-kms of groomed trails for skating and track skiing, winding along beautiful Fish Creek and the surrounding countryside. Lift and clinic packages are available at the Steamboat Ski Area Ticket Office. A free shuttle service runs daily between the resort and the Touring Center offering half-day and all-day trips.
Snowboarding in Steamboat
All of Steamboat's terrain is open to riders and offers excellent conditions including trees, meadows, groomed trails, a terrain park, one halfpipe and, of course, Steamboat's legendary Champagne Powder. Whether you are a freerider or just looking to carve, Steamboat has a good reputation as a top destination to ride. The resort has created terrain with advice from local snowboard. The Dude Ranch, which contains the state's largest FIS competition half-pipe, continues to be a popular attraction featuring 11' walls, 52' wide and over 450' in length. Weekly grooming by the resort's pipe-dragon grooming machine ensures the pipe is keep in top quality shape throughout the season. The Bashor Lift, a double chair, services the Dude Ranch and Bashor Bowl Area eliminating the walk all together except for those who want the exercise. The Beehive, a terrain park just for kids on Giggle Gulch--is back by popular demand and offers something for the smaller boarders. Other on-mountain features include benches, available at the top of all major lifts, a snowboard trail guide , The Ride Guide let's you know where to go and what to know, and a snowboard specific teaching area is located at the at the base of the mountain. Additionally, the Silver Bullet gondola is outfitted with racks to accommodate snowboards. Tool Rack Stations are also available and located in all terrain parks and at the top of several lifts. For first timers The Perfect Turn Learning Center offers a Beginner's 'Learn To ride' Guarantee. Beginners will be able to ride from the top of Steamboat's beginner's area in a controlled manner by the end of the Level/Phase #1 beginners clinic, or the next clinic is free. Steamboat Ski Rentals along with Steamboat Ski and Sport are ideally located at the base of the lifts and apply the latest technology to the rental and storage process, assembling all necessary services under one roof. The shops have top-of-the-line equipment and offers a huge selection of the latest equipment. Free overnight storage is available with each rental. Finally, Steamboat's reputation for producing the most Olympic skiing successes for the US extends into snowboarding. Shannon Dunn, a 25 year old Steamboat local, became the first American female to win an Olympic medal in snowboarding (a bronze in the halfpipe) at the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan. She started off as a skier in Illinois and continued skiing when she moved to Steamboat Springs.
Steamboat Aprés Ski
Steamboat has a good selection of bars both at the base village and in the old town. The Old Town Pub is particularly popular 'downtown' and The Tugboat Grill and pub at the ski area is another popular venue where rock bands perform. Slopeside there are plenty of excellent venues including a microbrewery. Throughout the winter the Steamboat Community Players offer weekend theatrical performances at the 7th Street Playhouse downtown. For movie-goers Steamboat has two movie theater complexes, Chief Plaza Theater downtown, and Time Square Cinema, at the base of the ski area.
Steamboat Snow Reports by e-mail
For a Free 7-Day Snow Forecast for Steamboat, including a Snow Report with current skiing conditions, just sign-up to our Ski Chat Forum and set Steamboat as a favourite ski resort in your Profile.
Also of interest for Steamboat, USA
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