An Olympic Year in Steamboat Springs
12/22/2025 12:18PM ● By Ski Town Media Staff
Cooper Puckett, whose dad and uncle were Olympians, is one of Steamboat's Olympic hopefuls. Photo courtesy of Cooper Puckett.
Just like a snowboarder in a halfpipe, Steamboat Springs goes big in an Olympic year.
With more than 100 Olympians – and counting – Steamboat long ago earned its moniker, Ski Town U.S.A.®
The 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Games take place in Italy, Feb. 6-22, but the celebration reaches around the world. The Olympics take center stage in Steamboat throughout the 2025-26 ski season, beginning with the premier of Steamboat Olympian Taylor Gold’s snowboard video in November. Taylor, who competed in the 2014 Games in Sochi, Russia, and again in the 2022 Games in Beijing, China, went on to establish Home Break. Now in its third year, this weeklong event showcases local and professional snowboarders on specially created features in Mavericks Terrain Park. The resulting video, titled, “Home Break 3,” is produced in conjunction with Jeff Urbahn.
In December, Steamboat hosts the 2025 Visa Big Air World Cup, just above Ski Time Square at the base of the mountain. It serves as a qualifier for the Olympics and allows spectators to see elite riders up close and personal.
For those who would like to meet a Steamboat Olympian over a casual meal, the Steamboat Ski & Resort Corp. is arranging a series of dinners at the Crooked Antler, the newly rebranded restaurant at the Steamboat Grand.
Freestyle bronze medalist Nelson Carmichael, gold medal giant slalom skier Deb Armstrong and silver medalist and World Champion Nordic combined racer Johnny Spillane are among those hosting tables. People who are interested in attending one of the dinners can bid at www.Steamboat.com.
Steamboat will also be offering opportunities to ski with an Olympian – including Ann Battelle, Taylor Gold and Ben Berend – throughout the winter. Interested bidders can go to www.Steamboat.com.
While U.S. Ski and Snowboard teams aren’t generally finalized until shortly before the Games begin, it’s a good bet that Steamboat skiers and riders will be repping their country. To send them off, Steamboat is hosting a special event on Saturday, Jan. 31, in Steamboat Square.
Follow Steamboat athletes throughout the Games at www.Steamboat.com.
Shortly after the Olympics conclude, the 2026 Winter Paralympics open in Milano Cortina, March 6-15. While the U.S. team will not be decided until shortly before the Games begin,
para-snowboarder and World Champion Noah Elliott is a strong contender. Noah first visited Steamboat while struggling with the cancer that led to his leg amputation.
The annual Slash and Burn event, newly renamed Pash and Burn in honor of Alex Pashley, who co-founded the event and who was lost in an avalanche last winter in British Columbia, is slated for Saturday-Sunday, March 21-22, in Mavericks Terrain Park. One of the biggest banked slalom events in the U.S., the event brings together the best snowboarders in the world, riding alongside local groms (18 & under) in an event that celebrates fun over a competitive edge. Proceeds from the event will be donated to Routt County Search & Rescue and Teton County Search & Rescue, in Alex’s name.
Drop in to Steamboat Resort anywhere this winter to celebrate the community’s Olympic heritage.
Editor’s note: Steamboat Magazine’s 2025 Olympic Edition highlights many of the local athletes vying for a turn in the Olympic spotlight. For a free copy of this special edition, visit www.SkiTownMedia.com.
Just like a snowboarder in a halfpipe, Steamboat Springs goes big in an Olympic year.
With more than 100 Olympians – and counting – Steamboat long ago earned its moniker, Ski Town U.S.A.®
The 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Games take place in Italy, Feb. 6-22, but the celebration reaches around the world. The Olympics take center stage in Steamboat throughout the 2025-26 ski season, beginning with the premier of Steamboat Olympian Taylor Gold’s snowboard video in November. Taylor, who competed in the 2014 Games in Sochi, Russia, and again in the 2022 Games in Beijing, China, went on to establish Home Break. Now in its third year, this weeklong event showcases local and professional snowboarders on specially created features in Mavericks Terrain Park. The resulting video, titled, “Home Break 3,” is produced in conjunction with Jeff Urbahn.
In December, Steamboat hosts the 2025 Visa Big Air World Cup, just above Ski Time Square at the base of the mountain. It serves as a qualifier for the Olympics and allows spectators to see elite riders up close and personal.
For those who would like to meet a Steamboat Olympian over a casual meal, the Steamboat Ski & Resort Corp. is arranging a series of dinners at the Crooked Antler, the newly rebranded restaurant at the Steamboat Grand.
Freestyle bronze medalist Nelson Carmichael, gold medal giant slalom skier Deb Armstrong and silver medalist and World Champion Nordic combined racer Johnny Spillane are among those hosting tables. People who are interested in attending one of the dinners can bid at www.Steamboat.com.
Steamboat will also be offering opportunities to ski with an Olympian – including Ann Battelle, Taylor Gold and Ben Berend – throughout the winter. Interested bidders can go to www.Steamboat.com.
While U.S. Ski and Snowboard teams aren’t generally finalized until shortly before the Games begin, it’s a good bet that Steamboat skiers and riders will be repping their country. To send them off, Steamboat is hosting a special event on Saturday, Jan. 31, in Steamboat Square.
Follow Steamboat athletes throughout the Games at www.Steamboat.com.
Shortly after the Olympics conclude, the 2026 Winter Paralympics open in Milano Cortina, March 6-15. While the U.S. team will not be decided until shortly before the Games begin,
para-snowboarder and World Champion Noah Elliott is a strong contender. Noah first visited Steamboat while struggling with the cancer that led to his leg amputation.
The annual Slash and Burn event, newly renamed Pash and Burn in honor of Alex Pashley, who co-founded the event and who was lost in an avalanche last winter in British Columbia, is slated for Saturday-Sunday, March 21-22, in Mavericks Terrain Park. One of the biggest banked slalom events in the U.S., the event brings together the best snowboarders in the world, riding alongside local groms (18 & under) in an event that celebrates fun over a competitive edge. Proceeds from the event will be donated to Routt County Search & Rescue and Teton County Search & Rescue, in Alex’s name.
Drop in to Steamboat Resort anywhere this winter to celebrate the community’s Olympic heritage.
Editor’s note: Steamboat Magazine’s 2025 Olympic Edition highlights many of the local athletes vying for a turn in the Olympic spotlight. For a free copy of this special edition, visit www.SkiTownMedia.com.