Howelsen Hill Ski Area is a small
ski area
A ski area is the terrain and supporting infrastructure where skiing and other snow sports take place. Such sports include alpine and cross-country skiing, snow boarding, tubing, sledding, etc. Ski areas may stand alone or be part of a ski resort. ...
located on Howelsen Hill in
Steamboat Springs,
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States. It is one of the Mountain states, sharing the Four Corners region with Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah. It is also bordered by Wyoming to the north, Nebraska to the northeast, Kansas ...
. It is not a typical
alpine ski area, as it includes a series of
ski jump
Ski jumping is a winter sport in which competitors aim to achieve the farthest jump after sliding down on their skis from a specially designed curved ramp. Along with jump length, competitor's aerial style and other factors also affect the fin ...
s, the largest with
HS127.
History
The ski area has produced 89
Olympians in both alpine and Nordic events. With a vertical drop of , it has one
chairlift
An elevated passenger ropeway, or chairlift, is a type of aerial lift, which consists of a continuously circulating steel wire rope loop strung between two end terminals and usually over intermediate towers. They are the primary on-hill tran ...
, two
carpets
A carpet is a textile floor covering typically consisting of an upper layer of Pile (textile), pile attached to a backing. The pile was traditionally made from wool, but since the 20th century synthetic fiber, synthetic fibres such as polyprop ...
, and one
Poma lift.
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.
In 1914 ski area with hill was officially opened, and ready for the second annual Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Carnival next year, as first edition was still held at another location. This is the oldest continuously operating ski area in North America. Originally called Elk Park, it was renamed to Howelsen Hill in 1917, after Norwegian immigrant
Karl Hovelsen who established the resort. 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 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. It was renovated in 1931, 1948, 1959, 1977 and 2001.
Ski jumping world records
On 18 February 1916, American
Ragnar Omtvedt set the first of two official
world records
A world record is usually the best global and most important performance that is ever recorded and officially verified in a specific skill, sport, or other kind of activity. The book ''Guinness World Records'' and other world records organizatio ...
, landing at .
On 2 March 1917, American
Henry Hall set the second and last official world record on this hill at .
On 28 February 1919, American Lars Haugen at and his brother
Anders Haugen at both fell at world record distance.
On 29 February 1920, American
Anders Haugen fell at world record distance at .
References
External links
Howelsen Hillofficial site
Howelsen Hillskisprungschanzen.com
{{coord, 40.483, N, 106.839, W, display=title
Buildings and structures in Routt County, Colorado
Ski areas and resorts in Colorado
Tourist attractions in Routt County, Colorado
Ski jumping venues in the United States