Photo: VastAction

Penn Lukens is the 2011 NorAm Champion in halfpipe and went on to compete in the half pipe at his first World Cup in France last winter. The 17-year-old Steamboat Springs High School junior is also a past USASA SkiCross National Champion and represented the United States at the World Junior Championships in New Zealand.

When I moved to Steamboat Springs, I was in 3^rd grade and anxious to ski all of the time. When February rolled around, everyone at school was talking about Winter Carnival and the horses and the jumps. I wasn’t sure what it was but I asked my mom to sign me up for everything, which she did.

Photo: VastAction

On race day, we showed up downtown and found the street closed. It was full of snow and many steaming horses with cowboys perched in the saddle. Thousands of people lined the streets to watch what the kids were doing. I quickly figured out that I was going to be one of those kids. I waited for my turn and moved up the line. Before I knew it, a cowboy came up on a horse and asked me how fast I wanted to go. I said, “Full speed!” I grabbed hold of the rope and was soon flying down Lincoln Avenue, snow flying in my face, hanging on for dear life.

As we came up to F.M. Light, I saw the donkey jump in the middle of the street. Perfect. I loved jumps (and still do). I hit the jump as hard and fast as I could and twisted around in a trick that thrilled the crowd. They went crazy as I flew through the air and stuck my landing. The next morning I was on the front page of the newspaper.

Photo: Matt Stensland, Steamboat Pilot & Today

Every year, my sisters and I participated in the street events, until we grew too old to do it anymore. Not many people can say they’ve skied down the middle of Steamboat’s main street in town but I have. It’s a blast and I hope my kids can do it someday.

-Penn Lukens (Guest Blogger)

Don’t miss the 99th Annual Steamboat Springs Winter Carnival, Feb. 8-12, 2012.  Come join the fun, and support these young future Olympians as they showcase their talents in the Winter Carnival Street Events in Ski Town USA!

We’ve been snow dancing all across the country and it looks like Ullr has finally answered our calls! After waking up to 11″ at mid-mountain on Tuesday morning, all of Steamboat was in Champagne Powder® heaven, and the bluebird sky was the cherry on top.

Now that we’ve all got the powder itch, low and behold we see this in the forecast!

In honor of the return of epic powder days we are giving away $50 in Chamber Bucks in the Twitter world! Tell us how much powder you think will hit Steamboat between Wednesday night and noon Monday. Tweet #SteamboatSnow along with your guess for your chance to win!

We hate to be biased, but we’re hoping to give $50 to the biggest number out there!

Jon Wade, Broker Owner, The Steamboat Group
Our Thanksgiving is pretty simple and that is the beauty of it.  We spend the day enjoying Steamboat as a family then celebrate with friends.  We like to sleep in a little (in years they open the top of the mountain I will get up early since those can be some of the best powder days of the year).  Then we get up and head for the mountain to make some turns together, stop by Slopeside, fit in another sport if possible then head back to prepare dinner.  We share some food and wine, the kids play and make plans for another great year. Time with friends who are like family is the highlight of the holiday for us.

It is not hard to be thankful since we are blessed with a great family & friends to enjoy life with, living in Steamboat is our dream come true and there are always plenty of great memories to give thanks for.

Sarah Coleman, CrossFit and Personal Trainer, Fusion Fit Steamboat
I recently looked up the synonyms of the word community.  The results were as I thought, group of people, the public, population, and last, but not least, neighborhood.  The word neighborhood gives the meaning of the word depth and warmth.  Community is more than being just part of the population but adding the spice of life and friendship, the giving and the caring.

Speaking of warmth, I love Thanksgiving.  It’s the warmest of all the holidays and, the most filling both in your belly and your heart.  It is both the act of giving and the act of thanks, a true gift of warm food to your “community” and your “people.”  I had the exceptional opportunity to volunteer last Thanksgiving at our community dinner here in Steamboat.  It opened my eyes to the true meaning of community.

By giving back and serving gallons and gallons of gravy and mashed potatoes, I learned what an amazing sense of community is here, right in our own backyard.  There was no shortage of food, napkins, smiling faces, or rubber gloves.  The food line was always full of the next hungry man, woman, or child.  The constant ask for “what can I help with,” never seemed to run out either.  The extent of work and preparation that goes into a community dinner astounded and humbled me.  I found the true meaning of community that day.

Here’s to all you people in this community that make this happen, from the guests, to the cooks, to the much needed cleaner-uppers.  Keep smiling.  Keep giving.  Keep eating.  You are the warmth of our neighborhood.  And if you are looking for a very gratifying gift, volunteer this year!  I wouldn’t miss it.

Kathy Stokes, Owner, Steamboat Post Net
Almost everyone comes to Steamboat and makes family out of friends. Friends in Steamboat spend special days together including Thanksgiving. We have a regular group of friends who join our family for Thanksgiving dinner in addition to a few extras. This year in particular we will have a larger group with our son bringing home some college friends.

With our ever-evolving group, we prep the meal the night before so there is not much to do on Thanksgiving Day. We also make sure everyone brings something to add to the meal. That something has to be enough to not only feed the group on Thanksgiving but it has to be enough to send leftovers home with everyone. Leftovers are a very important part of Thanksgiving, after all.

Dinner is planned for no earlier than 5 or 6pm. We’ve got to get some runs on the mountain in! In fact, we purchased an oven that has a setting for turkey. When the turkey is done the oven turns off. That way we can stay on the mountain a bit longer if we want and the turkey is always ready no matter how many turns we take.

Thanksgiving in Steamboat is a very special day for my family and friends. We get to do what we love and be with the ones we love. I couldn’t ask for anything more!

As you have read, Thanksgiving in Steamboat is a very special time for us all. We’d love you to join us for the holiday! There are lots of places to get an amazing Thanksgiving dinner.  Order your Thanksgiving dinner from the Drunken Onion Get & Go Kitchen’s custom menu, make reservations for The Cabin’s set menu, or check out the Community Thanksgiving Dinner and experience a truly special day of thanks.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Well summer is officially over.  Frosty mornings and chilled nights signal that flakes will start falling in 6 weeks or so and we’ll officially be in full winter mode.  But even though our powder hounds have already started their opening ski day count down, there’s still plenty to love about Steamboat in the fall.

The hint of yellow in the Aspens from a week or two ago is now spreading throughout the valley.  Local photographers are out en force shooting these fall panoramas.

Karen Schulman of Focus Adventures hosts her fall photography workshops for locals and guests who have extended their summer stay in Steamboat.   She also teaches private lessons and gives photo tours – so if you can’t be here for all of October, you can always schedule a photo lesson and/or tour of scenic Steamboat when you’re in town.

Or if you like to just “click around”, go to our chamber facebook page for inspiring shots from local photogs and see where they’re shooting the best fall colors or interesting old barns or mountain lakes with leafy reflections.

And Rod Hanna (long time Steamboat resident and avid photographer) has an entire book to inspire your fall photography.  Seasons of Gold is a gorgeous coffee table book fit for any mountain home.

And when you’ve finished your own photographic masterpiece – have local master printer make you an archival giclee print of your images.  Joel Schulman of Photographics Arts can help you get your photos out of the digital world and onto your walls.

So book your fall photography getaway to Steamboat.  The air is crisp, the sky is bright blue and the leaves are turning into their vibrant fall hues.  Oh and the hotels and restaurants all around town have amazing deals to really round out a nice little getaway for you.

Yes we realize that title makes absolutely no sense unless you’re familiar with the German fall phenomenon known as OktoberFest. It’s a celebration of beer dating back to 1810 – which makes uncovering the answer to this daunting question a bit challenging.

So we are just rolling with Crown Prince Ludwig’s decision over 200 years ago and having our Oktoberfest beer celebration in September too – except we’re Steamboat and we love to put our own signature spin on almost everything we do – so we call it OktoberWEST.

Join us this weekend Sept 16-18 for an OktoberWest fest like no other.

The weekend kicks off with the Pedaling Posse Parade. Picture a parade of crazy costumes on cool cruiser bikes – ending at Little Toots Park just in time for the Suds & Grub Crawl to begin.

If you need MORE of a visual – click on this video made by Old Town Pub that shows just what the pedaling posse parade is all about (if you said F.U.N. – you’re so right)!  Sorry quality isn’t great (two years ago technology – but the music is fun)

The Suds & Grub Crawl commences after the parade ends and as all your favorite Steamboat watering holes lure you downtown for beer tastings & appeTEASERS.

Sample Blue Paddle Pilsner along the river at Cottonwood, chow down some Rocky Mountain Oysters with New Belgium’s Hoptoberfest at Old Town Pub, enjoy a pork belly slider with a Trippel Ale at Sweetwater. Try the Pyramid Apricot Ale at the Tap House, Stella Artois at the Smokehouse and 5 barrel at the Boathouse.

Wash down a house made pretzel with Steamworks Colorado Kolsch at the Ghost Ranch Saloon, or a whiskey glazed hot link with a little Sunshine Wheat at Double Z. Or go Southwest style with a little Dos Equis Amber and Chili con queso on the Rio rooftop.

And after your TASTINGbuds have gotten their groove on, get ready for the main event on Saturday with the OktoberWest Celebration at Mt. Werner. From the cow PIE contest to mechanical bull rides and a lamb cook off – this is definitely NOT your typical German style Oktoberfest. We bring fun to a whole new level.

And when you have your Rocky Mountain micro-brew in hand and are listening to the sounds of the Great American Taxi FREE concert raise your stein to your neighbor, give a big ole’ cheers and..

FALL in Love with Steamboat!

Watch a sneak preview of Great American Taxi Here – featuring Vince Hermann of Leftover Salmon (and then picture them playing with Mt. Werner as the back drop while you’re holding a super cool OktoberWest stein, sippin’ on some Rocky Mountain Micro Brews.  Thirsty yet?  Buy your OktoberWest tickets now and we’ll save you a stein!

Labor Day weekend in Steamboat.  I’m not even sure where to begin as we have so much fun stuff going on, so I thought I’d do a little video instead.  So listen to a jumpy little summer tune this afternoon and watch our quick video then head up to Steamboat for an amazing weekend.  Wild West Air Fest, Pro Bull Riding Bash, Mainstreet Chuckwagon/Chili Hoedown, Steamboat Sidewalk Sale, First Friday Artwalk, Stockdog Challenge, hangin’ by the river.  The list goes on.  So watch then wipe the drool from your chinny chin chin, pack up the car and head on up.  (oh and did we mention temperatures are in the  upper 70′s all weekend) kind of perfect.

If you want the full scoop from our e-newsletter, click here.

Are you going to be a part of the most demanding bike race held on American soil in one place, Steamboat Springs?  The event we’ve all been waiting for all summer is happening tomorrow (Friday, Aug 26) – the Stage 4 USA Pro Cycling Challenge that will finish smack dab in the middle of downtown Steamboat Springs and start up again with Stage 5 from the base of Mt. Werner (meadows parking lot) on Saturday, Aug 27.  If you have no idea what all the hype is about – check this video that explains how the mountain makes the difference for these seasoned cycling pros who have never raced at this altitude – never climbed to these heights in competition.  The mountain changes everything.

Have you been watching all of the action on the Shack Tracker?  The bikers are in Vail today – edging closer and closer to Steamboat.  Live streaming video and commentating available at the click of a button.

And, of course, we’re all loving the fact that Andy Schleck of the Leopard Trek Team made a special visit to Steamboat a week ago for some pre-training and hanging out with the fans (basically the entire town of Steamboat came out to ride with him).  He and his brother, Frank Schleck, were two of the top Tour de France finishers this year; and we hear Andy liked our little town quite a lot.  They, and all of the other pro riders, will be at Athlete’s Alley on Saturday morning – signing autographs, mugging for photos, rubbing pedals with the fans.

Check out Team Leopard Trek’s humorous call out to liking their facebook fan page — these men are intense in the competition — but light hearted when they’re out of the saddle.

And here”s a really fun link where you can watch the route from Avon to Steamboat as if you were riding it at 60mph – white knuckles et al…. Be sure to hit “play route” in the top right corner to get the full adrenaline pumping experience.

Everything you need to know about Steamboat and the Stage 4 & 5 experience is on our www.steamboatprocycling.com site plus links to discounts on lodging and a whole slew of fun bike related events.  Oh and if you wear bright green at the finish line – you can get yourself a super cool cowbell (while supplies last). See you tomorrow in Steamboat!

Click on the Unleash your Inner Artist Collage to see full descriptions of these amazing artist led workshops on writing, painting, photography and performing arts.

Click here to reserve your spot in one of the workshops or buy a 5 pack punch card and don’t make your inner artist have to choose just one…

Click here for all of the Steamboat All Arts Festival Fun (there’s SOOOO much going on)

Click here for that extra workshop hosted by Off the Beaten Path Bookstore – Breakfast with a Bestselling Author.  All of the details are on this page.

If you thought the Steamboat All Arts Fest is just about the visual and performing arts – you’re quite mistaken!  The culinary component at the Yampa River Arts Stroll will be garnering just as much attention this year as the other artist events.

And even though you can’t hang food on the wall (unless you’re perhaps a toddler), we want to highlight the food arts this weekend in the best way we know how – with a food and wine tasting! Our credo for the all arts fest culinary component is that:

Food will be celebrated, tastebuds will be wowed and palates will be pleased.

So while you’re meandering through the Steamboat Yampa River Arts Stroll (10am-6pm Friday, 10am-6pm on Saturday and 10am-3pm on Sunday), stop by the toque tented area on Friday and Saturday to taste the latest and greatest from our foodie friends.

This year’s big news is that Zakary Pelaccio will be heading up the Saturday tasting event (at 2pm).  He’s trained under Daniel Boulud and Thomas Keller at the earlier stages of his career and has become an acclaimed international chef in his own right (not an easy achievement, folks).

His London ultra hip restaurant, Suka, won all kinds of British accolades and his Fatty Crab and Fatty Cue restaurants have also been lauded by critics as some of the best restaurants in New York.

He’s been on the Food Network and has penned a dining guide for New York highlighting the best of the best from the Slow Food movement.  He’s passionate about using locally grown food in his restaurants and artisan purveyors – something in Steamboat we can already appreciate.

So, while you’re strolling through the artist tents, be sure to also stop by and meet Zakary Pelaccio.  Then sit, sip and savor. Did we forget to mention the Colorado wines that will be paired with his cuisine?  That’s where the sipping part should come in….

We’ll also have our own Steamboat chefs to keep you satiated for the stroll on Friday and Saturday afternoons.  For the full listing of Friday and Saturday’s culinary demonstrations, please click here. 

We’ll see you Friday and Saturday (August 19 & 20th) for the Yampa River Arts Stroll Colorado Culinary & Wine Tasting.

Cheers & A Votre Sante!

Ok yes, that is a little bit of a tongue and cheek title as what we’re presenting this weekend is an amazing cultural extravaganza in our gorgeous little mountain town.

Steamboat’s own Emerald City Opera is once again collaborating with world renowned opera singers (from the New York Metropolitan Opera) to present Die Fledermaus.

If you’ve always been curious about opera, are a seasoned opera connoisseur (and own your own fancy schmancy opera glasses), or are just looking for an incredible way to spend this Thursday night (August 18, 2011), then Please click here for tickets and all of the details.  Oh and don’t forget Die Fledermaus is going to be sung in English.

Watch this video to see the high calibre performers that comprise Emerald City Opera.  This past performance was one of our favorites given the Wild West slant…

And not only do you have the opportunity to watch this talented group of opera performers, you can also go to the After Party at Three Peaks Grill sip wine, eat delicious appetizers and ask them all of the crucial opera questions you’ve been waiting your whole life to have answered.

Lizzie’s suggestions for questions to ask the performers at the afterparty:

1) Is it really not over until the Fat Lady sings?
2) Was Elmer Fudd’s performance in, What’s Opera, Doc? One of your favorites?
3) Was Mozart really murdered by his rival?
4) How often does crystal break all around you when singing high pitched opera notes – and, if it happens often, should the chandeliers in fancy opera houses be made of plastic?
5) Is your dream roll to star in the opera Barkley of Seville with basketball star Charles Barkley

Ok, we’re being silly here and we all know that Opera is serious business – NOT.  It’s an amazing art form with thrilling story lines of deception and intrigue.  The Emerald City Opera’s annual performances are one of the most phenomenal cultural highlights of the Steamboat summer season.

And where else can you wear cowboy boots in an acoustically amazing pavilion with the mountains as your back drop and New York Metropolitan Opera singers taking center stage?  Why only in Steamboat, of course!

DIE FLEDERMAUS
Thursday, Aug 18, 2011
7pm at the Strings Music Pavilion
Click here to buy your ticket