News & Announcements from Steamboat Springs

STEAMBOAT SURPASSES 100 INCHES OF CHAMPAGNE POWDER SNOW FOR THE MONTH OF DECEMBER

Wednesday, December 26, 2007

STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, CO-December 26, 2007-With a recent series of storms dropping more than 4 feet of snow in the past week, the Steamboat Ski Resort has surpassed 100 inches of Champagne Powder snow in the month of the December for just the 6th time in the past 29 years.

"December has been a Champagne Powder snow generating machine and with five days still to go, we're closing in on a top-three month in terms of total snowfall," said Chris Diamond, president and chief operating officer for the Steamboat Ski & Resort Corporation. "Steamboat is enjoying some of the best snow in the Rocky Mountains, with one of the largest mid-mountain bases of any major Colorado destination resort."

The resort is currently in an active storm cycle that has yielded over 2 feet of new snow in the past 72-hours. During the past seven days, the resort has piled up a whooping 49 inches (4.08 ft) of fresh snow at mid-mountain and is reporting a 50-inch base at both the mid-mountain and summit locations on powder conditions. Steamboat is currently offering powderhounds 2,820 acres (95% of the mountain), 147 trails, 17 lifts and 3,668 vertical feet of skiing/riding enjoyment.

For the month of December, 102 inches (8.5 feet) has fallen at mid-mountain, making this the 6th time the resort has surpassed the 100" mark for the month in the past 29 years. The resort has seen snow 21 out of 26 days (80.7%) this month, with 12 of those days recording more than four inches. This season, 142 inches (11.8 ft) of Champagne Power snow has staked up at the ski area's mid-mountain site.

The National Weather Service has issued a snow advisory for Steamboat from 6pm this evening until 6pm Thursday. Sunny skies and mild temperatures today likely will be replaced by heavy snowstorms and low temperatures for the next week. Longer range forecasts continue to show the area in an active weather pattern heading into the New Year.

"Steamboat has a very good set-up, with mostly westerly winds coming though with enough moisture with those winds for good, terrain-enhanced snow," Chris Cuoco, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Grand Junction, told the Steamboat Today yesterday. "Steamboat will have several inches of snow each day, starting Thursday night through Sunday." Cuoco predicted that up to a foot of snow could fall from Thursday through Sunday on Mt. Werner, while downtown Steamboat Springs could receive up to 6 inches of snow each day.

To ensure that the holiday experience in Steamboat-Ski Town, U.S.A. is right up there with the current snow conditions, the resort is opening the ski area early to ensure it meets or exceeds the guests' holiday expectations. The following lift opening times went into effect Wednesday, Dec. 26th and will continue through Thursday, Jan. 3rd: Steamboat Gondola, Christie Peak Express, Thunderhead Express and Preview at 8:15a.m.; Burgess Creek, Four Points, Elkhead, Storm Peak Express and Sundown Express at 8:30a.m.; and, Sunshine Express and South Peak at 8:45a.m.

This winter, a record $16 million in on-mountain enhancements will greet Steamboat guests, highlighted by the six-passenger Christie Peak Express chairlift. In addition, Steamboat's nonstop flight program will offer unprecedented access to Ski Town, U.S.A.® this season via nonstop air service from ten major U.S. cities, including all three major New York City area airports, in addition to one-stop connecting service from more than 150 other domestic and international cities.

Provided by Steamboat Ski Corporation

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