Editing Steamboat Ski Resort

{{Short description|Ski area in Colorado, United States}}
{{Infobox ski area
| name           = Steamboat Resort
| logo           = Steamboat logo.jpg
| picture        = [[File:Steamboat springs ski resort.jpg|240px]]
| caption        = <!--Steamboat Resort from the-->Base of the mountain in 2008
| location       = [[Routt County, Colorado|Routt County]], [[Colorado]],&nbsp;[[United States|U.S.]]
| nearest_city   = [[Steamboat Springs, Colorado|Steamboat Springs]]
| pushpin_map    = USA#Colorado
| pushpin_relief = 1
| coordinates    = {{coord|40.459<!--|27|10-->|N|106.803<!--|46|23-->|W|type:landmark_scale:50000|display=inline,title}}
| pushpin_label_position = 
| map_caption    = Location in the [[United States]]##Location in [[Colorado]]
| status         = Operating
| owner          = [[Alterra Mountain Company]]
| top_elevation  = {{convert|10568|ft}}
| base_elevation = {{spaces|2}}{{convert|6900|ft|0}}
| vertical       = {{spaces|2}}{{convert|3668|ft}}
| skiable_area   = {{convert|2965|acre|km2|1}}
| number_trails  = 170 total <br>[[Image:Ski trail rating symbol-green circle.svg|13px]] - 14% beginner<br>[[Image:Ski trail rating symbol-blue square.svg|13px]] - 42% intermediate<br>[[Image:Ski trail rating symbol-black diamond.svg|13px]] - 44% advanced
| longest_run    = "Why Not" ~ {{convert|3|mi|0}}
| liftsystem     = 21 total: 3 [[gondola lift|gondola]]s,<br>1 high-speed six-pack<!-- passenger-->,<br>7 high-speed quad chairs,<br>4 triple chairs,<br>2 double chairs,<br>6 surface lifts
| terrainparks   = Yes, 4
| nightskiing = Yes 
| snowfall       = {{convert|400|in|ft m|1}}
| external_link  = [http://www.steamboat.com steamboat.com]
|}}
'''Steamboat Resort''' is a major [[ski area]] in the [[Western United States|western]] [[United States]], located in northwestern [[Colorado]] at [[Steamboat Springs, Colorado|Steamboat Springs]]. Operated by the Steamboat Ski & Resort Corporation, it is located on [[Mount Werner]], a [[mountain]] in the [[Park Range (Colorado)|Park Range]] in the [[Routt National Forest]].  Originally named Storm Mountain ski area, it <!--first-->opened on January 12, 1963.<ref name="Fetcher">{{cite web|url=http://www.coloradoskihistory.com/areahistory/steamboat.html|title=History of the Steamboat Ski Area|last=Fetcher|first=Bill|work=ColoradoSkiHistory.com|accessdate=19 July 2010}}</ref><ref name=offwlfsrt>{{cite news |url=https://www.coloradohistoricnewspapers.org/?a=d&d=STP19630110.2.2&e=-------en-20--1--img-txIN%7ctxCO%7ctxTA--------0------ |work=Steamboat Pilot |location=(Steamboat Springs, Colorado) |title=Storm Mountain ski area will open officially Saturday when lift starts |date=January 10, 1963 |page=1}}</ref>

The ski area has 170 named trails spread over {{convert|2965|acre|sqmi km2|1}}. Of those, 14% are classified as beginner-level, 42% as intermediate, and 44% as advanced. It also contains the Mavericks Superpipe, one of the premier{{according to whom|date=March 2019}} [[half-pipes]] in [[North America]].  Limited trails available for [[night skiing]] began to be offered in the 2013–14 season.

In honor of local [[United States at the 1964 Winter Olympics#Alpine skiing|Olympian]] [[Buddy Werner]] (1936–1964), Storm Mountain was renamed Mount Werner in 1965,<ref name=mwded>{{cite news |url=https://www.coloradohistoricnewspapers.org/?a=d&d=STP19650218-01.2.4&e=-------en-20--1--img-txIN%7ctxCO%7ctxTA--------0------ |work=Steamboat Pilot |location=(Steamboat Springs, Colorado) |title=Mt. Werner dedicated at impressive rites Sunday |date=February 18, 1965 |page=1}}</ref> and the ski area's name was changed as well.<ref name=mtnofhist>{{cite news |url=https://www.steamboatpilot.com/news/a-mountain-of-history/ |work=Steamboat Pilot |location=(Steamboat Springs, Colorado) |last=Silva |first=Kelly |title=A mountain of history |date=December 15, 2001 |accessdate=February 4, 2021}}</ref> [[Dallas]]-based conglomerate [[Ling-Temco-Vought|LTV]] purchased Mount Werner ski area in the fall of 1969,<ref name=lbmtw>{{cite news |url=https://www.coloradohistoricnewspapers.org/?a=d&d=STP19690925-01.2.7&e=-------en-20--1--img-txIN%7ctxCO%7ctxTA--------0------ |work=Steamboat Pilot |location=(Steamboat Springs, Colorado) |title=LTV buys Mt. Werner in 8 million dollar transaction |date=September 25, 1969 |page=1}}</ref> rebranded it as "Steamboat" the following summer,<ref name=fcsstmbt>{{cite news |url=https://www.coloradohistoricnewspapers.org/?a=d&d=STP19700618-01.2.2&e=-------en-20--1--img-txIN%7ctxCO%7ctxTA--------0------ |work=Steamboat Pilot |location=(Steamboat Springs, Colorado) |title=LTV Skiing focus on Steamboat |date=June 18, 1970 |page=1}}</ref> and hired [[FIS Alpine World Ski Championships 1970#Combined|world champion]] and [[Alpine skiing at the 1964 Winter Olympics – Men's slalom|Olympic silver medalist]] [[Billy Kidd]] as director of skiing.<ref name=bkson>{{cite news |url=https://www.coloradohistoricnewspapers.org/?a=d&d=STP19700903-01.2.3&e=-------en-20--1--img-txIN%7ctxCO%7ctxTA--------0------ |work=Steamboat Pilot |location=(Steamboat Springs, Colorado) |title=Bill Kidd signs on |date=September 3, 1970 |page=1}}</ref><ref name=chmpgn>{{cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VjXFWhWmqGMC&pg=PA48 |magazine=SKI |last=Rand |first=Abby |title=Champagne skiing on a great natural mountain |date=August 1971 |page=48}}</ref><ref name=71ad>{{cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VjXFWhWmqGMC&pg=PA63 |magazine=SKI |agency=(advertisement) |title=Steamboat's a comin' |date=August 1971 |page=63}}</ref>

==Ownership==
In 2017, Steamboat Ski Resort was purchased by [[Alterra Mountain Company]] from<!-- Previously Steamboat Resort was owned by--> [[Intrawest]], a Canadian resort management company. Steamboat was one of the seven resorts owned by Intrawest.<ref name="intrawest-resorts">{{cite web|url=http://www.intrawest.com/resorts.htm|title=Intrawest – Vacation Destination Resorts|publisher=Intrawest|accessdate=19 July 2010}}</ref> Prior to Intrawest's ownership, Steamboat was owned by the [[American Skiing Company]]. Intrawest purchased the resort at the end of the 2006–07 season.<ref name="Fetcher" />

==Mountain statistics==
===Elevation===
*Base: {{convert|6900|ft|0}}
*Summit: {{convert|10568|ft}}
*Vertical Rise: {{convert|3668|ft}}

===Trails===
*Area: {{convert|2965|acre|mi2 km2|1}}
*Trails: 169 total (14% beginner, 42% intermediate, 44% advanced)
*Longest Run: "Why Not" ~ {{convert|3|mi|0}}
*[[terrain park|Terrain Parks]]: 6 (including Mavericks Superpipe)
*Average Annual Snowfall: {{convert|400|in|ft m|1}}<ref name="Fetcher" />

The three lower mountain lifts (the gondola, Thunderhead Express, and Christie Peak Express) service most of the green runs, which include the long Why Not trail from Thunderhead. Blue trails can be found mostly off of these same lifts, plus the two high speed quads on Sunshine Peak, although more funnel to the Sunshine Express lift.<!-- This is true, do not make it an opinion! --> A couple of blue runs can also be found from the Four Points, BAR-UE, and Storm Peak Express lifts, as are a few in Morningside Park.

The blue-black runs are scattered about the mountain, but most of them are located off the Pony Express lift in Pioneer Ridge. Black runs can be found off of all five high-speed quads, the highest concentrations are on north Sunshine Peak, most of Storm Peak, Pioneer Ridge, and Morningside Park. The sole double-black runs of the area make up the extreme terrain on Mount Werner.

===Slope Aspects===
*North: 20%<ref>{{cite web|title=Best Ski Resorts: Steamboat Ski Resort Terrain, Snow Quality and Mountain Ranks|url=https://zrankings.com/resort/show?id=150-steamboat-ski-resort|website=ZRankings|publisher=ZRankings LLC|accessdate=7 April 2015}}</ref>
*South: 23%
*West: 55%
*East: 2%

===Lifts===

*Steamboat has 18 lifts, with 5 [[Surface lift|Magic Carpet]]s.  

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Name !! Type !! Manufacturer !! Built !! Vertical<br>{{small|(feet)}} !! Length<br>{{small|(feet)}} !! Notes
|-
| Steamboat Gondola || [[Gondola lift|Gondola]] 8 || [[Doppelmayr USA|Doppelmayr]] || 2019 || 2176 || 8849 || Replaced an older Doppelmayr gondola that was built in 1985, bottom terminal was moved uphill in 2021 to make room for Wild Blue. 
|-
|Christie Peak Express || [[Detachable chairlift|High Speed Six]] || [[Leitner-Poma]] || 2007 || 1102 || 4636 || Has a midstation, and is open for [[night skiing]]. Lower segment realigned in 2022 during installation of Wild Blue Gondola.
|-
| Storm Peak Express || High Speed Quad || Doppelmayr || 1992 || 2159 || 6885 || 
|-
| Sundown Express || High Speed Quad || Doppelmayr || 1992 || 2159 || 6885 || This lift provides access to "Shadows" off skiers right. Shadows is widely renowned as the most difficult glade skiing in the continental United States
|-
| Thunderhead Express || High Speed Quad || Doppelmayr || 1997 || 1641 || 5530 || 
|-
| Pony Express || High Speed Quad || [[Doppelmayr USA|Garaventa CTEC]] || 1998 || 1653 || 5003 || 
|-
| Sunshine Express || High Speed Quad || [[Poma]] || 2006 || 1280 || 5647 || Former Tombstone Express from [[Park City Mountain Resort]]
|-
| Elkhead Express || High Speed Quad || Doppelmayr || 2016 || 726 || 2411 || 
|-
| Four Points || Triple || Yan || 1983 || 1361 || 4012 || 
|-
| South Peak || Triple || Yan || 1984 || 305 || 1700 || 
|-
| Morningside || Triple || Garaventa CTEC || 1996 || 545 || 2685 || Main lift outside of the Morningside bowl. 
|-
| Burgess || Triple || Leitner-Poma || 2004 || 939 || 3490 || 
|-
| Bashor || Double || Yan || 1974 || 305 || 1505 || Oldest lift on the mountain, and dedicated terrain park and race training lift. 
|-
| Bar-UE || Double || Yan || 1977 || 1352 || 4820 || 
|-
| Wildhorse Gondola || Pulse Gondola 6 || Leitner-Poma || 2009 || 104 || 1942 || Does not serve any skiable terrain, built to connect Wildhorse Meadows (Housing development) to the base area. 
|-
| Wild Blue Gondola || 10 passengers || Doppelmayr || 2022 (stage 1)<br>2023 (stage 2) || 590 (stage 1) || 4267 (stage 1)|| Two-stage gondola running from the base area to the summit of Sunshine Peak, with a midstation at the Greenhorn Ranch. Constructed over a two year period, with the lower stage opening in 2022 and the upper stage opening in 2023.
|- 
| Greenhorn Ranch Express || High speed quad || Doppelmayr || 2022 || 230 || 1206 || Learning lift, with auto-locking safety bars
|-
| Mahogany Ridge Express || High speed quad || Leitner-Poma || 2023 || - || - ||
|}

According to steamboat.com, plans are in the works to place a high-speed six-pack along the Thunderhead lift line.

The $15 million gondola replacement project lasted through the summer of 2019. Some of the helicopter-enabled tower replacements were streamed online, and the lift was extensively tested under load. It opened with fanfare on November 23, 2019, at the start of the winter 2019-2020 season, but broke the next day on November 24,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.steamboatpilot.com/news/new-gondola-closes-due-to-malfunction-day-after-opening-might-not-be-in-operation-for-busy-holiday-week/|title = New gondola closes due to malfunction day after opening; might not be in operation for busy holiday week| date=25 November 2019 }}</ref> when a main driveshaft sheared (possibly due to unexpected stress during transit from Austria). The manufacturer ([[Doppelmayr/Garaventa Group|Doppelmayr]]) sent a team from [[Austria]] to help with the situation, and the Steamboat lift Ops worked together around the clock to build, ship, and install the replacement part(s). The gondola reopened on December 5th, almost 12 days later.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://theknow-old.denverpost.com/2019/12/05/steamboats-new-gondola-working/229990/|title=Steamboat's $15 million gondola is finally working more than a week after it opened|date=5 December 2019}}</ref>

==NCAA Championships==
Steamboat has [[NCAA Skiing Championships#Host sites, by location|hosted]] the [[NCAA Skiing Championships]] eight times ([[1968 NCAA Skiing Championships|1968]],
[[1969 NCAA Skiing Championships|1969]], [[1979 NCAA Skiing Championships|1979]], [[1993 NCAA Skiing Championships|1993]], [[2006 NCAA Skiing Championships|2006]], <!--[[2010 NCAA Skiing Championships|2010]], [[2016 NCAA Skiing Championships|2016]],-->2010, 2016, [[2018 NCAA Skiing Championships|2018]]).

== References ==
{{reflist|2}}

==External links==
*{{official website|http://www.steamboat.com/}}
*[https://skifederation.org/steamboat-history-full-of-western-lore-pioneering-spirit/ Steamboat History Full of Western Lore, Pioneering Spirit] at skifederation.org

{{Intrawest resorts}}

[[Category:Alterra Mountain Company]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Routt County, Colorado]]
[[Category:Ski areas and resorts in Colorado]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Routt County, Colorado]]
[[Category:Steamboat Springs, Colorado]]