Favorite ski runs in Steamboat

By:
Nov. 26, 2018

Shape skis. Twin tips. Nordic. Snowboard. Powder skis. Monoboard.

IF YOU GO

Steamboat Resort

Howelsen Hill

  • Colorado’s oldest continuously operated ski run (since 1915)
  • 21 km of cross-country trails, 17 alpine trails 9 Nordic trails, 4 lifts
  • Alpine trail map
  • Nordic trail map

It doesn’t matter what you strap to your feet, when there’s fresh snow in Steamboat, you head to your favorite ski run (after strapping on your helmet, of course).

Steamboat is known for producing more winter Olympians than any other town in North America, something the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club (SSWSC) has had a hand in – they’ve trained 95 Olympians, with 165 Winter Olympic appearances in 20 Winter Games representing 12 countries.

As the official medical provider for SSWSC, UCHealth asked the next generation of skiers and snowboarders for some insight on the best runs in and around Steamboat. They should know – most of them have been skiing or snowboarding since they were able to walk.

 

Cael McCarthy is showing skiing in these photos.
Cael McCarthy – from age 4 to flying high out of the half pipe. Photos courtesy of Cael McCarthy.

Name: Cael McCarthy

Age: 13

# of years on snow: 10

Discipline: Freeskiing

Favorite ski run: I really like Mavericks Terrain Park at Steamboat Resort where I can feel the exhilaration as I spin through the air when I go off the jumps or total satisfaction when I complete a rail. On a powder day, you will find me flying off rocks on East Face.

 

Emi Cooper skis around race poles.
Photo courtesy of Emi Cooper.

Name: Emi Cooper

Age:15

# of years on snow: 14

Discipline: Alpine skiing

Favorite ski run: Vagabond at Steamboat Resort. I like it so much because of how long it is and all the terrain on the run. One of my favorite feelings is ripping open GS turns down the entire run.

 

Bennett Gamber skis as a young child and ski jumps as a teenager.
At age, 3, Bennett Gamber had his skis securely under him. Fast forward a few years, and his Nordic combined training took him to Eisnerz, Austria. Photos courtesy of Bennett Gamber.

Name: Bennett Gamber

Age: 17

# of years on snow: 16

Discipline: Nordic combined

Favorite ski runs: For downhill skiing at Steamboat Resort, I like Nelson’s because it is diverse. It usually has great snow on it and there’s fun little cliffs to ski off. The trees off to the left of White Out aren’t usually skied much, so you’ll find great snow there. East Face is a long run and always gets more and better snow than the rest of the mountain. Cross country skiing at the Howelsen Meadows give you lots of time and distance as the trail winds around on a light slope. Coombs Corner on Howelsen Hill has fun downhills that seem especially fast on cross country skis.

 

Waverly Gebhardt competes in a cross country ski race.
Photo courtesy of Waverly Gebhardt.

Name: Waverly Gebhardt

Age: 17

# of years on snow: 12

Discipline: Nordic

Favorite ski run: Bruce’s Trail on Rabbit Ears Pass. It’s always the first to open, has awesome terrain and gives me the earliest opportunity to ski. For me, that’s the most important thing – there’s nothing better than skiing on snow in October. It’s smaller than other ski trails, but that doesn’t matter in comparison to the early snow skiing.

 

Landon Wendler competes in moguls
Landon Wendler competes in moguls. Photos courtesy of Landon Wendler.

Name: Landon Wendler

Age: 18

# of years on snow: 16

Discipline: Moguls

Favorite ski run: Voodoo at Steamboat Resort. It’s a great moguls course. I also really enjoy skiing on Nelson’s and White Out because of the moguls and cat tracks. The amount of rocks and cliffs are really fun to jump off on a powder day. I always enjoy the days I get to ski these runs with my friends and have a good time.

 

Maggie Carrigan competes in an alpine snowboarding competition.
Photo courtesy of Maggie Carrigan.

Name: Maggie Rose Carrigan

Age: 21

# of years on snow: 15

Discipline: Alpine snowboarding

Favorite ski run: Hot Cakes at Steamboat Resort. It’s always great on a powder day and it was my first powder/tree run when I was little. My favorite run to train gates on is All Out because it is always “hero snow” – the best snow where you can lay out a full carve. The pitch is fun and fast!

 

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About the author

Lindsey Reznicek is a communications specialist at UCHealth Yampa Valley Medical Center in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. She has spent the last ten years working in marketing and communications in health care, an industry she never considered but one to which she's contributed through her work in media relations, executive messaging and internal communications. She considers it an honor to interact with patients and write about their experiences; it’s what keeps her coming back to work each day.

A native of Nebraska, Lindsey received a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism, with a focus on public relations, from the A.Q. Miller School of Journalism and Mass Communications at Kansas State University – she bleeds purple.

She could see a Broadway musical every week, is a huge animal lover, enjoys a good shopping trip, and likes spending time in the kitchen. Lindsey and her husband have two daughters and enjoy hiking in the summer and skiing all winter long.