Tucked away in Colorado is a small town unlike any other. A place where western heritage and genuine friendliness are as honored as the values of a time gone by. And a place where not a whole lot has changed in the last hundred years. It’s just that now, mixed in with the Stetson hats and cowboy boots, is the sophistication of a world-class resort. Our western heritage, six peaks of world-class terrain, and family programs rated the best in the west by SKI Magazine, continue to set Steamboat apart from every other ski resort.
Whether you’re stepping foot into a local pub, one of our charming boutiques, or stepping off the gondola, the reception is the same – warm. But the down home genuine friendliness is only half the reason people choose to vacation here. Nestled 7,000 feet up in the Colorado Rockies, Steamboat is one of North America’s largest ski mountains. With 164 trails, 3600 vertical feet, and nearly 3,000 skiable acres, its six peaks are filled with world-class groomed cruisers, bumps, steeps, open meadows, and legendary tree skiing.
This resort is so hard to describe. How do you describe something that is so nearly perfect that you don't really have words for it? The bottom line is that Steamboat is a [throw in any super-positive adjective here] mountain: huge, snowy, and steep. If you call yourself a freerider, but you aren't reading this from Steamboat Springs, then you need to either quit calling yourself a freerider or move to Steamboat!
Review:
Steamboat. What to say about Steamboat Springs? This is the question I've been asking myself the last few weeks since we visited. Do I focus on the incredible atmosphere of the town, the wonderful people, the mind-blowing terrain, the snow, the even more snow, the fact that even after riding at most of the resorts in the western US, I've found a resort, and a resort town, that I could potentially never leave? Or do I play it all down because I don't want anyone else to discover it? This is, and I'm actually going to say it, my favorite resort out of all of the 40-50 that I have been to, and I don't expect that to change. To me, the things that make up a perfect resort are - Terrain: including trees, steep open runs, good natural cliffs and launches, a decent terrain park, and even some good intermediate to beginner terrain; Snow: good dry pow-pow is worth more than gold in my book, and Steamboat gets it like no other resort outside of Alaska; and Atmosphere: cool locals make resorts so much nicer by making people feel welcome, bling-bling is a turn-off. Steamboat maxes all of these for me, and from talking to our other reviewers, my feelings aren't alone. While Steamboat is a resort town, and definitely works to pull in tourism, the real strength is from its local scene. People don't dislike the fact that you are a tourist. If you chill with some locals they may even show you some sweet spots (not the cool secret local stashes though). This is probably because they know that if you are a real rider you'll be one of their neighbors within a couple of years. There is a great mix of local feel with the thrown in plus of international-resort-town amenities.
The mountain is any freerider's dream, one visit to Steamboat and you won't remember any other mountains. The wide-open trees, waste deep snow, an abundance of 20 foot drops, massive rollers, endless cat-track airs, natural jibs, and, if you ever get tired of mother nature's terrain, a great terrain park.
We visited Steamboat last on our Colorado tour, 8 days of riding behind us, and so my body was already pretty worn out by the time we got there. The incredible thing about Steamboat powder is it instantly rejuvenates you. Our biggest pow day was the last day we were there, and as absolutely beat as I was by the end of the day, if we had been there another day and it had snowed, I would have been out there at 8 AM again. And that is the reason people live in Steamboat. While the thrill of snowboarding that got us all into the sport has died in many places, but is still very much alive in Steamboat.
Overall, if you've been to Steamboat you know what I'm talking about. If you haven't, then you need to. The terrain is epic, the people are nice, and the quality of the snow is unbeatable.
Review:
Steamboat has had a great start on the '02/'03 season. They have been getting good snow and their "Maverick" super pipe was the first to open in Colorado. Being the second largest ski resort in Colorado, the mountain offers a vast variety and quantity of terrain to ride. The numerous Aspen glades provide the best tree riding I've ever experienced; there are plenty of steep and deep slopes and numerous cliffs just a short hike from the "Storm Peak Express" lift, and there are lots of cruiser runs for all the speed demons out there. Steamboat has a great first-tracks program as well. For $35 you can beat the crowds to the powder. The experience of being the first ones on the mountain with fields of untracked snow or sheets of untouched corduroy is truly unique, plus, included in the price, you get a buffet style breakfast at the mid-mountain lodge.
From my experience, Steamboat is not as crowded as many of the other ski resorts in Colorado. Many resorts are located off of Interstate 70, which makes for lots of traffic and big lift lines. Steamboat is off the beaten path but is still easily accessible, being only 3 hours from both Denver and Fort Collins. They also offer a "Steamboat Card" that costs only $10 and is good for all future seasons. The card is aimed at attracting Colorado residents and allows you to get both ticket and lodging discounts throughout the season.
During our visit it snowed steadily for 3 of the 4 days we were there, giving us well over 40 inches of the fluffy stuff; this is a common occurrence in Steamboat. We also had the pleasure of riding with Scott Anfang, one of the snowboard instructors, for two days. He was a great guide and showed us some of the favorite local spots. Scott and the other instructors I met were very energetic and enthusiastic about sharing the superb experience of riding Steamboat. I would definitely recommend them to anyone who is interested. Even if you don't need instruction it's a great way to find the best spots on the mountain and skip any of the lift lines. Scott also told us about the freestyle instruction program that is another unique characteristic of Steamboat. There are beginning to intermediate instruction programs for riding rails, half pipe, and jumps for those who have the desire and need some pointers. Another thing that I really like about the mountain is the ease of mobility. In most cases you can get to where you want from just about anywhere on the mountain in one run (2 tops). This way you don't waste time and can ride the entire mountain instead of staying on one peak or one side for the whole day.
There are many other things that make the town of Steamboat great aside from the mountain itself. Not far away there is Steamboat Powder Cats, a cat service that operates on Buffalo Pass, which usually receives more snow than the rest of Colorado. Also, there is another local mountain called Howelson, which is the longest running ski resort in Colorado. Howelsen offers night skiing and is used by a lot of ski clubs that cater to the youth of Steamboat. The local scene, my favorite, is great. There are a number of great restaurants and bars both at the mountain (Slopeside, Bear River, Gondola Pub) and in town where everyone seemed to know one another. Everybody was upbeat and friendly and portrayed a sense of being in one big family.
Steamboat is amazing. Last season was an epic winter, with the mountain receiving more than 500" of snow. The people are friendly, there is great terrain, and it's just a generally awesome place to be!
I do have to say, their park is pretty lacking compared to the other mountains in Colorado, but it's hard to complain when you're taking advantage of the rest of their terrain.
Steamboat it is. For all the missing information, look on www.steamboat.com. There is even a daily snow report from the perspective of someone who has been out that very morning riding for about an hour. It is a well-run, magnificent place, deep in the heart of Colorado.
Review:
Steamboat is a tree loving cliff dropper's dreamland. With trees that could not have been placed better if they were planted with snowboarding in mind and enough of change of terrain across the mountain, it is pure playground. Not even to mention the gorgeous Colorado backdrop. What stands out about Steamboat is not just that it is a winter wonderland, but all the care and attention the locals give the mountain. The town of Steamboat houses many committed people who not only participate in winter activities, themselves, but also make it enjoyable for visitors. Take, for example, the guided nature tours where you learn from locals to recognize the vegetation and the many kinds of animal tracks that may be seen from the lifts. Or, have you ever been interested in a Freestyle Park and Pipe Clinic? Steamboat offers them too.
Don't miss the First Tracks program that, for only $35 extra, lets you onto the lifts early to catch the fresh groom or fresh mountains of pow with you can follow up with an included (and very hearty) buffet breakfast at Thunderhead. First Tracks can also be included (at no cost) in a full day private lesson. Lessons at Steamboat are organized based on how many people show up in a level and what the interests of the group are. The instructors are fun loving, knowledgeable and very helpful. Many of the instructors are from New Zealand, but there are also instructors from other countries, so a snowboard lesson may include a bonus cultural lesson. The Steamboat website will be a good reference for any specifics (there are many) that I am missing in this review. Scott Anfang, who is one of Steamboat's top instructors is written up in the January issue of Snowboarder Magazine. There is a half page about a blind snowboarder, who Scott coaches. From getting to know Scott and some of the other employees, it became obvious to us that Steamboat only hires people truly worth their weight in gold. They are all committed to the sport and to helping people improve their skills and have a good time.
There is always the constant reminder of Steamboat's fine Western history. How do cowboys and snow sports work hand in hand? Very well, actually, as Steamboat proves through its tasteful Western atmosphere, both on and off the mountain. Each year they celebrate their history with different activities and events pertaining to the Western theme. Everyone there makes it clear that they aren't just any old generic resort.
After raving about the awesome people and opportunities at Steamboat, maybe I should cover the resort itself. Though, it is hard to separate all the pieces. Really, Steamboat is made up of all the different features that make it the whole experience. The mountain provides a lot of option, from its backcountry, to its outstanding trees and rocks. The runs are very smooth and easy to navigate. The base area, near the gondola, is fenced off for learning and instruction and the rest of the mountain is mostly blues and blacks. Steamboat has oodles of blue runs to choose from and for the average to advanced rider there is a lot to explore. With the snow dumps, even blacks become manageable for the intermediate rider.
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