Howelsen Hill Ski Area

Howelsen Hill Ski Area is a small ski area located on Howelsen Hill in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. It is not a typical alpine ski area, as it includes a series of ski jumps, the largest with hill size at 127 metres.

Howelsen Hill
LocationSteamboat Springs, Colorado, US
Opened1914
Size
K–point114 metres (374 ft)
Hill size127 metres (417 ft)
Hill record127 m (417 ft)
Clint Jones
(28 February 2002)
Howelsen
Hill
Location in Colorado

History

The ski area has produced 89 Olympians in both alpine and Nordic events.[1] With a vertical drop of 134 metres (440 ft), it has one chairlift, two carpets, and one Poma lift.[2] The local youth ski team, the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club, practices at the area, along with various ski jumpers in training, including U.S. Ski Team Jumpers.

Construction of the first ski jump on Howelsen Hill began in the summer of 1914. The jump was completed and the area was open for recreation in time for the second annual Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Carnival that was held in 1914.[3] This is the oldest continuously operating ski area in North America. On an area once known as Elk Park, a former small game preserve, it was renamed in 1917 for Carl Howelsen, a Norwegian immigrant who established it. The alpine area was established in 1931.

Howelsen Hill Ski Area has sent more skiers to international competition than any other area in North America. It is the oldest ski area in continuous use in North America, and has the largest and most complete natural ski jumping complex in North America. Howelsen has been the training ground for 89 Olympians making over 130 Winter Olympic appearances, 15 members of the Colorado Ski Hall of Fame, and 6 members of the National Ski Hall of fame. Howelsen Hill is open to the public and is owned and operated by the City of Steamboat Springs Parks, Open Space and Recreation Department.

Ski jumping world records
Date Name Country Metres Feet
18 February 1916   Ragnar Omtvedt  United States 58.5 192
1917   Henry Hall  United States 61.9 203
1918   Henry Hall  United States 62.2 204

References
  1. https://www.5280.com/2018/02/only-in-colorado-howelsen-hill-ski-area/
  2. The Denver Post, Colorado Ski Guide 2010
  3. Colorado Ski Authority, Colorado Ski History Timeline

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