Special $15 Sponsorship Day Lift Ticket Proceeds Benefit Trail Maintenance Across Yampa Valley Season Runs Daily Through August 30; Labor Day Weekend (Fri-Mon) & then Weekends (Fri-Sun) till Sept. 27.

STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, CO-June 3, 2015-Steamboat Ski Resort will usher in the summer cycling season on Thursday, June 11, with its annual Sponsorship Day, where 100% of the day’s lift ticket proceeds and $15 from every bike rental will go toward Routt County Riders’ trail maintenance projects across Routt County.

“Now in its third year, Sponsorship Day demonstrates the true partnership spirit of Bike Town, U.S.A., and I couldn’t think of a better way to kick off the summer than with a great cause that benefits the entire community,” said Jim Schneider, vice president of skier services for Steamboat Ski & Resort Corp. “The dollars raised on this benefit day go a long way in helping maintain trails across Routt County for a vast majority of the biking population.”

Steamboat Ski Resort will feature specially-priced $15 tickets to enjoy the Steamboat Bike Park or gondola rides on Sponsorship Day, Thursday, June 11, from 3 to 7pm. The list of anticipated trails for Sponsorship Day includes Rustler’s Ridge, Tenderfoot, Bull Rider, Valley View and Duster.  However, final trails will be announced closer to June 11 as conditions continue to change. Similar to winter, season passes will be valid starting, Friday, June 12, when the mountain moves to daily operations.

In addition, the resort will be offering 50% off rental bikes that day, including the latest full-suspension technology in downhill mountain bikes from Scott and Specialized, as well as rental body gear, including full-body armor, helmets, gloves and pads. The trail maintenance fund will also receive $15 from every bike rental on this day. After your ride, savor a great selection of food and drinks from the Umbrella Bar and participate in the fun of the Coca-Cola Adventure Zone activities. On Sponsorship Day, the Adventure Zone will feature a special $19 unlimited activity pass that evening, which normally goes for $39.

Summer evening entertainment heats up over opening weekend with the start of the Mountain Music Series on Friday, June 12 and Coca-Cola Movies on the Mountain on Saturday, June 13. Denver-based, Oakhurst, a quintet featuring genre-bending Americana and Bluesy reverberation, kicks off the free music series at 7pm. The next night, cool off under the stars with the outdoor showing of Cool Runnings at 8:48pm. Based on a true story of four Jamaican athletes with few resources and virtually no clue about winter sports, it’s an uphill course for this troupe from the tropics as they go for the gold. Movies on the Mountain run every Saturday through August 15 with the exception of July 4th.

This summer, the freeride momentum continues with work on new trail segments, a redesigned Steamboat Pump Track in Ski Time Square and completion of the reroute of the popular intermediate Zig Zag XC trail. In addition to these new trail offerings, the Steamboat Bike Shop has expanded its rental line to include a premium option from Specialized and Scott bicycles, boasting a top-of-the-line component package and the latest in downhill technology.

Twilight Bike Park access offers evening riding over the summer on Thursday and Friday nights from 4-7pm. In addition, the downhill action heats up with the Captain of the Boat race series, taking place every other week on Thursday evenings in July and August. Rounding out the summer season are unique bike events, including Bike Week, Town Challenge, Captain of the Boat, Enduro-X races, STARS Charity Rides and the internationally renowned USA Pro Challenge.

The Steamboat Bike Park is an extraordinary bike park in Northwest Colorado with nearly 2,200 vertical feet of lift-served, gravity-fed and downhill flow trails. With a base elevation lower than most parks in the Rocky Mountains, Steamboat has a vibrant array of vegetation with trails winding through large aspen groves and thick undergrowth, resulting in a truly unique experience. The trail crew, in conjunction with industry-leading designers at Gravity Logic, utilized the natural topography ensuring a thrilling ride that highlights the best of the mountain’s natural features, rocks, bridges, drops and man-made jumps, all while providing exciting terrain for all ability levels.

Formed in the early 1990s, Routt County Riders is dedicated to all things cycling in and around Steamboat Springs, Colorado. RCR is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization and International Mountain Biking Association (IMBA) Chapter club that continues to grow and represent more variations of biking— including downhill/freeride, year-round commuting and adaptive cycling — across the Yampa Valley.  For more information on Sponsorship Day, including where to purchase tickets as well as a calendar of opening weekend and summer-long events at Steamboat Ski Resort, check out www.steamboat.com.