Ski Areas Celebrate Big Snow & Big Openings in Steamboat
11/11/2019 12:42PM ● By Alesha Damerville
STEAMBOAT SPRINGS – Steamboat Springs is no stranger to big snow and this year, Mother Nature and resort snowmakers have shared an early season bounty allowing North America’s Oldest Operating Ski Area, Howelsen Hill, to open early and the Home of Champagne Powder®snow, Steamboat Ski Resort, to open in record setting fashion.
“With Steamboat Ski Resort’s big announcement this week and Howelsen Hill planning to open early as well, we couldn’t think of a better way to jump into the 2019/20 winter season than together,” said City Manager Gary Suiter. “Big snow and big openings are setting the Yampa Valley up for a fantastic season ahead.”
The Yampa Valley is taking a new twist on après-ski and kicking off the season with a preview celebration at Howelsen Hill on Thursday evening, November 14, followed the next day with the Steamboat Ski Resort’s historic opening day on November 15.
“Skiing has been a way of life in the Yampa Valley for generations,” commented Rob Perlman, President & COO for the Steamboat Ski & Resort Corporation. “What a one, two punch to celebrate our historic snowfall and the hard work of snowmaking crews that sets the stage for even bigger celebrations this winter including the launch of our new gondola.”
Warm up and get your snow legs back under the lights at Howelsen Hill from 4-8pm on Thursday so you’re ready to hit the big mountain in prime condition the following day. Ski Corp President Rob Perlman and City Council President Jason Lacy will open the season together taking the first chair at Colorado’s historic ski area. Howelsen will feature skiing and snowboarding on The Face, an expert run, as well as a beginner area around the Boardwalk magic carpet.
Warm up in the historic lodge and Olympian Hall, where flags for Steamboat’s Olympians hang, share a few turns with friends and family and donate to the Howelsen Hill Ski Area Endowment Fund during this early season celebration. Don’t have a pass? The ski area will feature specially priced lift tickets for $11.14 (includes burger and soda) that evening as well as add two additional early Ski Free Sundays on November 17 and November 24, before moving to daily operations on Nov. 30.
Then on November 15, the Steamboat Ski Resort’s historical opening is off and riding! Special $50 lift tickets for the first week of the season along with all passes valid ensure you don’t miss out on a historic opening day. The 2019/20 season will start with Christie Peak Express featuring 50 acres, 1,100 vertical feet and 10 trails along with select features in Lil’ Rodeo Terrain Park.
The following weekend, Saturday, November 23 will see a celebration for the new Steamboat Gondola including the Northern Ute Tribe’s annual snow dance, christening of the Gondola, donation to the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club and more. The first 100 to ride the new gondola will receive specially designed Ohana shirts.
Howelsen Hill and Steamboat Ski Resort have a shared love of winter sports that spans more than a combined 150 years of operations. With an authentic, western town, genuine friendliness and an Olympic heritage that spans eight decades, the Yampa Valley understands the passion and exhilaration that comes with winter in the Colorado Rocky Mountains.