Chilling Out At The 99th Annual Steamboat Springs Winter Carnival
Have your child towed behind a horse through downtown and also watch a man ski down a hill with candles rocketing from his backpack at the 99th Annual Steamboat Springs Winter Carnival in Steamboat Springs.
The five day event has been taking place for nearly a century. However, the festival's real action takes place on Saturday and Sunday. For these two days, Lincoln Avenue, the main drag in Steamboat, is covered with snow and people. Crowds gather to watch as kids 6 to 14 years old participate in a myriad of street events including snowboard jam sessions, three-legged races, horse pulls, skijoring and the Donkey Jump.
According to Michelle Krasilinec, with the Steamboat Springs Chamber Resort Association, skijoring features kids ages 6 to14 being towed on skis or snowboards behind a horse down Lincoln Avenue. The child with the fastest time wins. Also, when you take skijoring and throw in a two-foot ski ramp in the middle of Lincoln Avenue, you get the Donkey Jump. The kid with the greatest distance wins the competition. Don't miss these and other exciting events at the winter carnival.
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Snowboarding Jam Session
Howelsen Hill
Downtown Steamboat Springs off of 5th Ave.
Steamboat, CO 80477
Dates: Friday, Feb. 4
Time: 7 p.m. - 8 p.m.
Price: Free
Ages: All ages
Under the lights of Howelsen Hill Terrain Park contestants looking to have fun on their boards are encouraged to come and ride. They get a chance to win cool prizes provided by the event's sponser, PowderTools.
Street Slalom
Lincoln Avenue
Downtown Steamboat Springs
Steamboat, CO 80477
Dates: Saturday, Feb. 5
Time: 9 a.m.
Price: Free
Ages: 10-14
Contestants will be pulled on skis, behind a horse, through a slalom course set up on Lincoln Avenue. The contestant with the fastest time wins. Any contestants that fall or miss a cone are disqualified.
Skijoring
Lincoln Avenue
Downtown Steamboat Springs
Steamboat, CO 80477
Dates: Saturday, Feb. 5
Time: 9:40 a.m. (Ages 6-9); 10:05 a.m. (Ages 10-14)
Price: Free
Contestants on skis will race a flat course down Lincoln Avenue while being pulled by a horse. Fastest time wins.
Shovel Race
Lincoln Avenue
Downtown Steamboat Springs
Steamboat, CO 80477
Dates: Saturday, Feb. 5
Time: 11:55 a.m.
Price: Free
Ages: 18+
Race down Lincoln Avenue while sitting on a snow shovel being towed by a horse. Fastest time wins. Anyone falling off shovel during the race is disqualified. Contestants must supply their own shovel.
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The fun is not just reserved for the children. There are special events lined up for you at the Winter Carnival as well. If you have a shovel, bring it. If you don't, buy one because you don't want to miss the Shovel Race where, "Contestants will situate themselves in a shovel of any type and while being pulled by a horse, will race a flat course down the street. Fastest time wins. Anyone falling off the shovel during performance will be disqualified."
On Saturday evening the crowd migrates from Lincoln Avenue in the town center to Howelsen Hill to watch a fiery Steamboat Springs Winter Carnival tradition that dates back to 1936. The Lighted Man.
At the top of Howelsen Hill, skier Jon Banks, decked out in an LED light suit and strapped with a backpack begins to descend the hill. Shooting from his pack, into the night sky are Roman Candles, brilliantly illuminating his track. In addition to the famed, Lighted Man, the Night Extravaganza also features skiers jumping off the 90 meter, K68 ski jump through rings of fire, and other eye-tantalizing spectacles.
Proceeds from the Winter Carnival benefit the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club's ski school program according to Krasilinec.
Registration for Carnival events must be done ahead of time. Visit the Steamboat Springs Chamber Resort Association website or call (970) 875-7002 to get event and registration information.
