Ski Free Sunday will close out the 102nd winter season at historic Howelsen Hill Ski Area on Sunday, March 11, 2018. Howelsen Hill is North America’s oldest operating ski area and a skiing institution across the community and Colorado.
This Sunday, the community is invited to come celebrate the end-of-the-season with FREE Hot Dogs, a kids’ learn-to-jump session and the final non-profit bake sale benefiting the Howelsen Hill Endowment Fund. Starting around noon, city councilors will be serving up free hot dogs while supplies last. The Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club (SSWSC) will help young skiers learn to soar during a learn-to-jump session from 10am to 12pm.
On the final day, the Barrows chairlift and Schnackenberg Poma lift will start turning at 10am and run until 4pm. The Boardwalk Carpet lift and small magic carpet are also expected to be operating. The four lifts provide terrain for all ability levels.
This past October 2017, the Steamboat Springs City Council approved free skiing on Sundays, ushering in Colorado’s most affordable Sunday lift ticket as a way to celebrate the upcoming Olympic winter season and honoring the tradition of this historic ski area. Howelsen Hill has helped generations of Steamboat residents enjoy the sport and been a community gathering place for more than a century.
This season, Ski Free Sundays have averaged nearly 580 tickets per Sunday, with the largest single day seeing 1,023 free tickets over President’s weekend. With one free day remaining, close to 7,000 free tickets have been issued this season.
After closing to the public, the ski area will host several SSWSC special events including the Alpine Rocky/Central U14 Championships. In addition, the Nordic Center will remain open and Nordic trails will be groomed on a daily basis until March 18, and then, intermittently as conditions permit. Season Passes or daily tickets are required for the Nordic trails, and can be purchased at the vending machine in the fireplace room, or at the SSWSC Club office on the 2nd floor of the Lodge.
Howelsen Hill Ski Area is owned and operated by the City of Steamboat Springs and holds a unique place in the history of skiing. Skiing since 1915, the ski area has been the training ground for more than 90 Winter Olympians, 22 members of the Colorado Ski Hall of Fame, 13 members of the National Ski Hall of Fame and athletes from the acclaimed Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club.
# # #
Contact:
Emily Hines, Marketing & Special Events Coordinator, 970.871.7031,
ehines@steamboatsprings.net
Brad Setter, Parks, Open Space and Recreational Services, 970.879.4300,
bsetter@steamboatsprings.net
Winnie DelliQuadri, Assistant to the City Manager, 970.871.8257,
wdelliquadri@steamboatsprings.net
Michael Lane, Communications Manager, 970.871.8220,
mlane@steamboatsprings.net