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.

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.