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Steamboat Springs Skiing
Steamboat Springs, a small ranching community in Colorado, is home to the oldest skiing resort in the United States and offers fantastic skiing in a genuine relaxed Wild West town. SkiTown USA, as it is commonly referred to, has a 100 year old history, and the downtown streets are still home to saloons and cowboys, yet a few miles away sits a modern resort offering great accommodation right next to the slopes, upscale shopping and gourmet dining, together with access to the fabulous skiing in Steamboat. It was here in Steamboat Springs that the term “champagne powder” was invented – the mountains have an enviable amount of wonderful powder snow that falls annually, about 337”, and it is one of the main attractions of Steamboat.
Steamboat Springs Skiing – The Mountains
Steamboat Springs is spread out over 5 mountain peaks – Christie, Sunshine, Mount Werner, Snow Peak and Thunderhead Peak. Reaching a top elevation of 3220m, Steamboat offers skiing for every ability, with its’ skiable terrain of 3000 acres, offering 142 trails. The tuition here is excellent, and, although Steamboat Springs has a reputation as an intermediate and advanced resort, beginners can enjoy the separate learn-to-ski area and then progress to the gentle blues. With the extensive lift system here, including a gondola, almost 35,000 skiers are transported swiftly around the resort, with minimal waiting time. Steamboat has 63 intermediate rated trails, with many long cruising runs found here, and it is an excellent resort for tree-skiing, with its’ numerous trails dotted with pines. The resort is also famous for its’ many mogul fields and the 59 black runs here are a mixture of big bumps, steep descents and slalom trails. There is also a racing area in Steamboat Springs, the largest in the world, with a race training arena which is open to the public. Steamboat Springs is home to the Billy Kidd Centre for Performance Skiing, run by the Olympic medalist, offering a wealth of intensive courses – in moguls, racing technique and parallel skiing, to name a few.
Skiing in Steamboat Springs – The Après-ski
Steamboat Springs really does offer visitors a friendly laid-back Western town, with years of rich heritage, and seems to be a world away from some of its’ glitzier counterparts, such as Aspen and Vail. Downtown Steamboat is great for strolling around, mingling with real ranchers and cowboys, visiting the local bars and saloons and browsing the local stores. Dining options range from Western barbeques and steakhouses, to upscale eateries offering buffalo, elk and seafood. Away from the slopes, non-skiers can try dog-sledding, ice-skating, horse-riding and the mineral hot springs.
USA Ski Holidays
Colorado Skiing Holidays
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