Steamboat Springs Winter Carnival 2011- Local Insider Tips!

This blog post was written by Lizzie Sack, lifetime Steamboat local and front desk manager at Trappeur's Crossing Resort!  Thanks for the memories and insider tips Lizzie!

As a Steamboat local, there really is nothing more “Steamboat” than the Annual Winter Carnival, Feb 2-6, 2011.  Started in 1914, as a way to help the locals cure their cabin fever during the height of the winter season, it still serves its purpose to this day.  It is truly the best way to celebrate the uniqueness of winter in Steamboat Springs, CO.

The Winter Carnival is known for it's wacky events, fabulous parade, torchlight parades and much more.  See a full line-up of events.  To participate and watch all these fun events you just need to pick up a Winter Carnival Button at any of the events or from the Winter Sports Club.

Growing up here the carnival was always something to look forward to.  As a teenager, it was always a contest in the schools to see which student’s button design would be the winner, to go down in history with your artwork on the button that hundreds of people wear & collect.  Also, they choose the high school group that would create the magnificent snow sculptures that line Lincoln avenue all week.  Students would put off homework to work on their sculpture designs and the prize was no only getting to display your artwork for all to see, but also a day off school to play with our famous Champagne Powder.

The street events are nothing other than some of the strangest and most unique events one has ever seen.  Lincoln avenue is filled with snow and the horses, kids, dads and dogs are rounded up! There is nothing like lining up with the rest of the Steamboat kids waiting for your turn to get on a horse and do the Ring and Spear toss – riding a horse, holding a spear and trying to collect rings suspended from stands- our own little modern day jousting match.

Or perhaps the Street Slalom, imagine getting pulled behind a horse through a slalom course of cones.  Yet, nothing compares to the craziness of the Shovel Race, held only for adults as they are pulled by galloping horses.

Every little girl in Steamboat wanted to be A Little Toots Princess, an honor bestowed upon the young girls in the world famous Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club.  Donning the famous Little Toots crown and riding the sleigh through the streets of Steamboat during the parade for all to see, is truly every little girls dream.  And of course there is no princess without a queen.  The Winter Carnival Queen was always the most deserving, hard working and elegant member of the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club.  This year the honor goes to Natalie Geer.

While all the events that take place are dazzling – The Night Extravaganza is the reigning favorite of the carnival.  The torchlight parade hosts all the Winter Sports Club kids who wind their way down the slope with a lighted torch. As a young girl, skiing down the mountain with 70 of my peers, sliding back and forth down the slope to help introduce the world famous Lighted Man, is one of the most exciting moments of a young, small town girls life.




And as soon as you get to the bottom of the run and turn your eyes up the hill to see The Lighted Man, lit up in all his glory from head to toe in lights, gliding across our powder with thrilling fireworks shooting out of his backpack, is something you know you will never experience again in your lifetime.

The Night Extravaganza is finished off the daredevils skiing down Howelsen Hill, jumping through a flaming ring of fire.  To this day, I still remember the terror I felt when I saw the first skier fall after jumping through the flaming ring.  Not to worry, no one was hurt.

Yet, nothing is more famous or one of its kind in the world than the Steamboat Springs High School Ski Band.  The Ski Band first appeared 1935 and to this day they are the only marching band in the world to march on skis.  The buzz around the high school band room for the two weeks prior to Winter Carnival is nothing but excitement, nerves are a thing of the past, these kids grew up skiing or snowboarding, it is their second nature.

Whether you are a first timer to Steamboat during this extraordinary event or have seen it many times, there is always an excitement that is the air, and I can almost guarantee that this year’s 98th Winter Carnival will be something that you will never forget and always think of when you remember your fabulous trip to Ski Town, USA.

Book your lodging with ResortQuest Steamboat now to get the best deals for the Winter Carnival lodging!  If you can't make this event book now and get 30% for Spring!