Steamboat Winter Carnival

Wednesday, February 3, 2010 - Sunday, February 7, 2010

Beginning as the organizing committee for the first Winter Carnival, the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club (SSWSC) has maintained the Winter Carnival as a service to the community since 1914. The Winter Carnival started as a way to help residents cope with cabin fever during the height of the winter season. The event continues to this day as a way to celebrate winter; as a reason for neighbors to gather; and as an opportunity for everyone to experience a piece of Ski Town USA® history and tradition.

This annual celebration includes a variety of events that embrace our western heritage and highlight Steamboat's tradition of winter sports. The festivities include such events as: Ski Jumping competitions, a Snowboarding Jam Session, the Soda Pop Slalom, a Tubing Party, the Diamond Hitch Parade which includes the High School band on skis, the Street Events on Lincoln Avenue, and the Night Extravaganza at Howelsen Hill with a brilliant fireworks display and the famous Lighted Man.

Wednesday, February 3, 2010 5:30 p.m. Opening Ceremonies (Olympian Hall, Howelsen Hill Lodge, Downtown off of 5th) Sponsored by Steamboat Meat & Seafood Co. & Pepsi Cola. A celebration honoring the Winter Carnival Queen and her Court of Attendants, Little Princesses and Grand Marshals.

Thursday, February 4, 2010 4:30 p.m. Cross-Country Obstacle Race (Howelsen Hill, Downtown off of 5th) Sponsored by SportsMed. A fun and entertaining obstacle race for young cross-country skiers, ages 5-12. Spectators welcome. Pre-registration is not required, but a release form must be signed or already be on file with SSWSC in order to participate.

4:30 - 6:00 p.m. Telemark Challenge (Howelsen Hill, Downtown off of 5th) Sponsored by Backdoor Sports. All ages welcome… Come and show your telemark technique on Howelsen Hill! Show us your skills in gates and moguls. Registration in the Fireplace Room from 3:30 pm to 4:00 and inspection from 3:30 – 4:30. Event starts at 4:30.

6:30 – 8:00 p.m. Dual Slalom Bicycle Race (Howelsen Hill, Downtown off of 5th) Sponsored by Wheels Bike Shop and the SSWSC Cycling Club. An exciting on-snow, mountain bike event down the face of Howelsen Hill complete with thrills and spills. The event includes practice, qualifying and final competition rounds. Register the night of the event at 6:00 p.m. in the Fireplace Room at Howelsen Hill Lodge. For more information, contact Chris Johns with Wheels Bike Shop at 970-846-RIDE.

7:00 – 8:00 p.m. 20, 30 & 50 Meter Jumping (Howelsen Hill, Downtown off of 5th) An opportunity for those ages 11 and older to take a shot at ski jumping on Howelsen’s famous jumps. Alpine, telemark or jumping skis only please. Register the night of the event from 5:45 – 6:45 p.m. in the Fireplace Room at Howelsen Hill Lodge.

7:00 – 8:00 p.m. Snowboarding Jam Session (Howelsen Hill, Downtown off of 5th) Sponsored by PowderTools. Located under the lights of the Howelsen Hill Terrain Park, this event is open to anyone looking to have some fun on his or her board. Prizes provided by PowderTools. Preregistration is not required, but a release form must be signed or already be on file with SSWSC in order to participate.

Friday, February 5, 2010 10:00 a.m. Soda Pop Slalom (Mt. Werner, Headwall Run) Sponsored by Christy Sports and Coca-Cola. This is a fun race and is open to any skier or snowboarder through the 5th grade who is not an age-class racer with the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club. Pre-registration required at the Winter Sports Club office. Registration deadline is Wednesday, February 4th at 6 p.m.

1:30 – 3:00 p.m. Bumps, Jumps & K18 Ski Jumping (Howelsen Hill, Downtown off of 5th) An enjoyable time for children ages 4-11 to take to the slopes of Howelsen Hill for some “flying fun.” Preregistration required at the Winter Sports Club office. Registration deadline is Thursday, February 4th at noon. Check-in from 12:30-1:15 on event day.

3:00 – 6:00 p.m. Tubing Party (Howelsen Hill, Downtown off of 5th) Come experience Howelsen Hills Tubing Hill. It is fun for the whole family. Tubes are provided and a waiver must be signed.

4:00 – 5:30 p.m. Nordic Jumping Jamboree (Howelsen Hill, Downtown off of 5th) Nordic Combined athletes jumping the Hillside 75, 42, 28 and 20 hills.

6:30 – 7:40 pm Olympian Send-Off (Courthouse Lawn) Sponsored by the Steamboat Ski & Resort Corporation. A celebration for all of the 2010 Steamboat Olympians! Join the entire community as Ski Town USA sends its Olympians off the Vancouver. Fireworks, the Steamboat Olympic Torch, big screen video and close to fifteen new Olympians.

Saturday, February 6, 2010 8:00 – 11:00 a.m. Knights of Columbus Pancake Breakfast (Holy Name Catholic Church-524 Oak St) Hosted annually by the Knights of Columbus, this function is the perfect way to fuel up for all of the day’s activities. In addition to a Winter Carnival button, a nominal admission is charged. 8:00 a.m. 100-Meter Nordic Sprint (Downtown, Lincoln Avenue) The Steamboat Springs Nordic Council is looking for the fastest skate skiers in the Boat! To find them, they are hosting a 100- meter Nordic Sprint on Lincoln Avenue between 7th and 8th streets prior to the Street Events. The race will have male and female divisions as well as 13 and over & 12 and under age categories. Anyone interested can register at the Steamboat Touring Center or at the Steamboat Springs Visitor’s Center.

9:00 a.m. – noon Street Events (Downtown, Lincoln Avenue) Sponsored by Yampa Valley Bank. A wildly popular and entertaining show featuring children on skis and snowboards being pulled behind horses through the snow covered streets of downtown. Races include street slalom, ski joring, ring and spear, donkey jump and the famous adult shovel race. The horse events are for children ages 6-14, while there are also non-horse events for infants to 14-year-olds. Pre-registration required at the Steamboat Springs Chamber Resort Association. Call the Chamber at 970-879- 0880 for more information.

9:00 a.m. – noon Pro Alpine Ski Flying Training (Howelsen Hill, Downtown off of 5th) Training for Sunday’s event.

Noon – 2:00 p.m. International Muzzle Loading Biathlon (Howelsen Hill, Downtown off of 5th) In this unique endurance event, participants clad in fur trapper, frontier vintage attire combine marksmanship, using early Americana black powder firearms, with cross-country skiing on primitive equipment. 1:00 p.m. Pro Alpine Ski Flying Qualifying (Howelsen Hill, Downtown off of 5th) Qualifying for Sunday’s event.

6:30 p.m. Night Extravaganza (Howelsen Hill, Downtown off of 5th) Sponsored by Yampa Valley Bank, Native Excavating and Pioneer Ridge. A must-see evening of entertainment at historic Howelsen Hill. The evening features a winter sports exhibition, the Lighted Man, glow necklaces and torchlight parades, fiery hoop jumpers, an elaborate fireworks display, and much more.

Sunday, February 7, 2010 9:00 – 11:00 a.m. Street Events (Downtown, Lincoln Avenue) Sponsored by Yampa Valley Bank. See above description.

11:30 a.m. Diamond Hitch Parade (Downtown, Lincoln Avenue) The diamond hitch consists of at least four (4) skiers. The skiers hold on to points of a rope tied in the shape of one or more diamonds. Animals, people or vehicles may pull the skiers down the snow-filled streets. Anyone is welcome to enter the parade. Pre-registration required. Call the Winter Sports Club at 970- 879-0695 ext. 100 for a parade entry form.

1:00 p.m. Pro Alpine Ski Flying Finals (Howelsen Hill, Downtown off of 5th) This is a must-see Gelandesprung (a German word that means terrain jump) Ski Jumping event with participants launching off of the K114 “Big Hill” on alpine skis and boots, rather than the usual ski jumping equipment. Watch as world records get broken! For more information, contact Pat Arnone at 970-879-8141.

1:00 – 2:00 p.m. Parent-Child Downhill (Howelsen Hill, Downtown off of 5th) Sponsored by Ski Haus and Pepsi Cola. Everyone is a winner in this non-competitive, fun event. An adult and child ski together through Howelsen Hill’s terrain. Each child is given a participant ribbon and is provided an opportunity to have a professional photograph taken on the podium. Preregistration is not required, but a release form must be signed or already be on file with SSWSC in order to participate.