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Hope to see you all soon!

Steamboat Springs Snow Report for April 1st

Steamboat Springs, Colorado, is in one of the most desirable areas in the Rockies. Great skiing in the winter & spring, where we experience some of the most breathtaking and interesting geology in the United States.

A storm early this morning dumped wet, heavy snow on the valley & mountain range in Steamboat Springs, skiers are enjoying 2 inches of new snow today! The snow accumulated around 2 inches so far, but we are expecting winter weather all weekend! Have a fun & safe weekend all & happy April 1st!

Steamboat’s Snow Report:

• Time: 04/01/10
• Conditions: Spring
• Lifts: 16
• Trails: 164
• 24 Hour Snow: 2″
• 48 Hour Snow: 2″
• Base: 49″
• Total: 223.5″

Following this year’s Olympic Games in Vancouver, many of those hoping to follow in Johnny Spillane and Todd Lodwick’s success will arrive in Steamboat to compete in the Ski Jumping and Nordic Combined Junior Olympics. Schedueled to begin March 2nd and run through he 6th competition will be fierce at Howelsen Hill. Athletes will begin arriving on Sunday to preview the course and get accustomed to the jumps. The opening ceremonies will take place at 615 at Howelsen Hill on Tuesday. There is scheduled to be a ‘parade of athletes, opening ceremonies and festivities to kick off several days of competition.’ For more information and pictures of these future Olympians check back!

With excitement in the air for our US Olympic Nordic Combined team, well over 100 people crowded into into the top level of the lodge at the base of Howelsen Hill getting ready to cheer on the Americans and local Steamboat men Johnny Spillane and Todd Lodwick. Every one was ready at 3 for the race to begin and crowded around 2 tvs that were broadcasting a live internet feed of the race.  Starting a mere 2 seconds behind the Finns after the ski jumping, the US team finished the first leg still in first but the rest fo the field had closed the gap.

A race consistating of 4 teammates each racing a 5k, each athlete raced for about 15minutes, a long, solid effort. Without a live tv feed, we were required to use the internet to stream the video, which was a bit spotty. The chorus of groans when the feed went out was louder only when the race momentarily cut out to watch the skier cross final; while a fun race it was not an event anyone was particluarly interested in watching at this moment. But it was a gutsy race for the American team, Todd Lodwick was the second leg, and spent his leg feeding off the Australian leader, switching the lead for first no less than 3 times. Johnny Spillane struggled a bit to finish his leg and put Bill Demong in position to chase the leader. Making up for a 15 second gap over the first half of his leg, the entire crowd in Howelsen was standing and screaming as the two traded spots for the gold position. In the final 200m Demong was out-kicked by the opposing Austrian. But a Silver medal, awesome! A great effort by the Americans and a few of the Steamboat locals!

The first American to win a medal in Nordic Combined, Johnny Spillane will take home the Silver medal to Steamboat Springs. Estatic about his Olympic performance, Spillane says that his success has only just sunk in. ‘The medals ceremony was a hell of an experience, and it’s something that I will never forget.’ He continues stating that, ‘It was fun to see everyone out there,’ Spillane said. ‘This crowd has a hometown feeling. There were so many people out there cheering, and I knew a bunch of them.’ Not done yet, Spillane will join teammates Todd Lodwick and Bill Demong to compete in the Nordic Combined Team event later in the Olympics.

For an interview with Johnny Spillane and a short clip with Rick Devos of Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club, check out NBC – Winter Olympics Interviews

Each day got a bit better. Friday was the first powder day in a little bit. Saturday it just kept dumping.  And yesterday, the skies parted, the snow was plentiful and the bright blue from above was blinding. A great weekend on the slopes and spent in the back-country.

Its seems as though each time we head to Buff, the snow and conditions are better and better. Friday we reached the top and cruised through 14+ inches of fresh snow. It was one of those days that passes in a blur but you know that each moment, each turn was excellent.

Saturday started with snow lightly falling as the morning began and the mountain was busy. Great to see people out and enjoying the fresh new snow. Wanting to dodge the crowds i spent the morning with a few friends hitting a few runs by Elkhead, where untouched snow seemed to last all morning. The afternoon i met up with a different crew who were taking the fresh snow as a sign to go big. Working on throwing a few backflips one buddy landed on his face, staining the previously virginal snow crimson red. But not wanting to miss anytime cruising through fresh terrain, we were quickly back on our feet, trying to go bigger than before.

And yesterday, you really felt like you were flying. With over 2 feet of light, fluffy, Champagne pow pow, we started the day on Dad’s. While one of our favorite runs to ski, the pitch wasn’t nearly steep enough and we found ourselves quickly leaving in search of steeper terrain. Never a bad problem, we were more than happy to move on. We quickly found another run and spent the rest of the afternoon just cruising down, floating just below the top of the snow. Our first bluebird day while on Buff Pass, everything shone, glistened and looked spectacular. A fantastic way to spend a Valentines Day in Steamboat.

While describing Nordic Combined as an ‘Oddball Event,’ it was exciting to see Todd Lodwick, Johnny Spillane and Billy Demong featured in the Wall Street Journal yesterday. Hailing the Nordic Combined team as an integral part of the chance for the comeback of the US Winter Olympians, the author Matthew Futterman, presents a compelling story on why non-traditional events could be the turning point in US international competitiveness. The story focuses on Tom Steitz and his strong influence and determination to change the traditional solitude many distance athletes were accustomed to, to creating a ‘system of constant oversight and accountability that was uncompromising and almost Orwellian in its outlook.’ Emphasizing a team atmosphere Steitz made everyone move to Steamboat Springs to continue training throughout the year instead of periodic training camps. This switch can be credited as one of the main components in helping many of the members of the current Olympic team improve key aspects of Nordic Combined For the complete account, check out the story below -

Let’s Win the Oddball Events, Too

Steamboat Springs continues to prove that it deserves the nickname ‘Ski Town USA.’ 17 people who are from, or have trained in Steamboat, qualified for the Olympic games this year. Included in this extensive list are ‘Todd Lodwick, five-time Olympian and World Champion; Johnny Spillane, four-time Olympian and America’s first World Champion in Nordic Combined; and Bill Demong, four-time Olympian and World Champion.’

Check out the list below to see all the athletes who qualified for Vancouver that have ties to Steamboat -

2010 Olympians with Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club Ties:
(name, country, discipline, past Olympics)
Caroline Calve, CAN, Alpine Snowboard
Brett Camerota, USA, Combined (2006)
Bill Demong, USA, Combined (1998, 2002, 2006)
Patrick Deneen, USA, Moguls
Taylor Fletcher, USA, Combined
Michelle Gorgone, USA, Alpine Snowboard (2006)
Tyler Jewell, USA, Alpine Snowboard (2006)
Ellie Koyander, GB, Moguls
Jana Lindsey, USA, Aerials, (2006)
Todd Lodwick, USA, Combined (1994, 1998, 2002, 2006)
Adam McLeish, GB, Alpine Snowboard
Michael Morse, USA, Moguls
Johanna Shaw, AUS, Alpine Snowboard (2006)
Callan Chythlook Sifsof, USA, Snowboard Cross
Johnny Spillane, USA, Combined (1998, 2002, 2006)
Ryan St. Onge, USA, Aerials, (2006)
Kimiko Zakreski, CAN, Alpine Snowboard

Billy Demong and Todd Lodwick are fronting the US Nordic combined teams hopes at gaining Olympic medals in nordic combined. Both credit their recent success to their renewed attitude taken after they took time away from the sport. ‘Lodwick says he needed his two-year retirement to realize how much he enjoys the journey — a perspective Demong gained seven years ago, after a harrowing swimming pool accident in 2002 sidelined him for a season.’

Both skiers have embraced a larger workload than previous years and are reaping the benefits. ‘Demong, a high school cross country runner, also took up cycling after the 2006 Games for offseason training. He entered dozens of bike races the last two summers. Learning bike racing tactics has helped him in cross-country skiing, he says, and the low-impact nature of cycling helps him put in more training miles than he can running.’ In addition to doing more work, Lodwick has changed his outlook on the running and building a base.  He states that ‘before, it was something I had to do. I had to go run. I had to go roller ski. I had to get on my bike. I had to go to the gym. Those are things I get to do now.’

But when it comes down to the all the competitions both athletes have been involved in over the years, they have the same outlook on the Olympics. “You look back at people’s careers,’ Lodwick says, ‘and regardless of how many World Cup victories they have, the question always arises, ‘Does he have any medals?” All of Steamboat will surely be cheering for him and Billy in a few short weeks in Vancouver.

To see the entire article, follow the link – Demong, Lodwick carry ISA’s Nordic Combine Medal Hopes

If it isn’t dumping snow the next best thing is a bluebird day with clouds barely visible on the horizon. This weekend we had days just like that. Being able to cruise the groomers, relax and enjoy the  mountain, it was definitely a day of leisurely skiing. And with the warm temps and the beautiful weather everyone appeared to have the same idea as myself at the end of the day; continue relaxing and enjoy the Apres Ski at Slopeside. Great to see a huge crowd outside and enjoying the great weather.  And with the snow dumping down as i look out the window, it looks like the blue skies are gone, but a welcome change!

Slopeside Apres Ski

View from North St Pats

View from North St Pats

We were able to skip out of work for a bit this morning and enjoy a little bit of powder up on Buff Pass. Only a few short miles outside of downtown Steamboat, Buff Pass regularly competes for the most snow in Colorado. Getting out early, we were excited to be one of the first cars at the top of the pass. With a slightly bigger group than last time, six, we had to have both snow mobiles running with one person being pulled behind each. But all that meant was more people to ski with on the way down. We began the morning with a few runs at a familiar spot, but it took us a few runs to get used to how much the landscape had changed with an additional 24 inches since the last time. But the new snow painted an entirely new landscape, changing previous falls to small bumps and opening bigger jumps.

As the morning continued we moved on to a steeper a longer run. An awesome change. The deepest, consistent powder many of us had seen all year, our whoops and hollers could surely be heard off in the distance. At one point we looked up after the completion of a run and saw a dogsled press by in the distance, a cool reminder that Buff Pass is open for a range of activities. Finishing just before lunch and returning to the office it reminds me why i live in Steamboat. The opportunity to enjoy activities I love at any point of the day, week or year.

Look upwards toward one of the runs

View of the Valley

View of the Valley

Snow has returned to Steamboat Springs. But because of the a short hiatus, today was even sweeter carving through the fluffy white stuff many of us have missed so much. Starting the day at 830, the gondy line was out the gates, with people carrying fat, fat skis, eager to begin the day. The early morning runs were some of the best. Hitting un-tracked lines down Shadows and Closets seemed to never get repetitive. The snow was continuing to fall, almost mocking the fact that 8 inches was reported at the days beginning. By mid-morning the snowbanks were a foot at the shallowest.

A bit of wind kept the day interesting. Storm Peak remained closed throughout the day, making traversing around the mountain a bit different than usual. Spending much of the afternoon on Bar UE was a change. The slow, two person lift was a peaceful reprieve between the long powder-filled runs.

But the best part of the day were the handful of runs we took off of Morningside lift. With enough snow, we were able to huck off of some of the rocks and ledges we have been looking at the past few weeks. While all our landings were not perfect, we were met with a comfortable landing with each fall. The two runs we took off of East Face and North St. Pats, can only be described as superb. All that could be heard from our group were yells, screams and a ton of laughter as we cruised through banks of snow up to our chests, with a few shots that went over our heads. Definitely not what many of us were expecting this morning, but a welcome surprise.

Not wanting the day to come to a close, we continued to ride until the end, reaching the base at 4. To top the day off we were just in time for the last of the courtesy hot chocolate and cider offered by the mountain ambassadors; the warm drinks hitting the right spot. One of those great days where the end is met with fantastic exhaustion and a yearning for more. More snow, more skiing and more memories that can come close to matching those of the day past.