Howelsen Hill, CO. March 25, 2023

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You go where the races take ya... all 440 verts in this case. Cold day in the single digits and teens.

Driving was 'sporty' the final 30 miles last night into Steamboat with blizzard co ditions on Rabbit Ears Pass. To the point that right near the top of the pass the pickup truck on the leading edge of our group of cars pull over with flashers on... then the next suv in the line went 50 feet past him and did the same... then the next 2 suvs did exactly the same thing too. Each eager to go until they realized just how bad it was. I, as the 5th car, then lead the group over the pass at about 10MPH with near zero visibility and probably 4inchs at least on the road. After maybe 5-8 miles it let up enough to speed up to 20 and I took a pic as I caught up to a single 4runner ahead of us...

These were the good part of driving conditions

It's a very, very historic spot here at Howelsen. Lots of ski jumping history. More winter Olympics athletes come out of Steamboat over the years that anywhere else (alpine, nordic, jumping, etc...).

Waiting for opening to public... will post ski pics later.

 

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2-4" of new on the tiny side of the valley (7" at Steamboat ski area). Sun helped a lot though never got above mid-20s.

Strong wind from the NE kicked up about 1p which at the start made for very chilly conditions on that particular spot. Though they did both SL and dual panel SL from different starts.

Yes, the ski trail goes straight through the jump structure.

The big skiing across the valley...

 

[jamesdeluxe]

all 440 verts in this case

Is there a standard vertical drop for racing, gates, etc. or does it vary according to wherever they're holding the competition?

How do they gauge what's considered the "oldest operating ski area?" Is that based on charging admission for entry?

 

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How do they gauge what's considered the "oldest operating ski area?" Is that based on charging admission for entry?

Pretty sure that's eye of the beholder. Howelsen uses simply the activity of skiing, including the early years where it was only ski jumping. So in thier mind it's been a "ski area" in use since 1914.

Is there a standard vertical drop for racing, gates, etc.

Depends on the level of competition being held. Many kids races are simply held wherever. But the older and higher level races have very specific minimums, have to get slopes 'homologated' as meeting various specifications and courses at that level have max/min distances between gates, number of gates on the hill based on vertical, etc.... lots of rules.