SSWSC Families,

Wow, it just keeps snowing! I hope you are enjoying the excellent conditions. The kids and coaches are having a blast exploring terrain and getting some powder turns at Howelsen Hill and Steamboat Ski Resort. There is a lot of energy in the air! Please take a moment to have a conversation with your athlete about proper etiquette and speed on the mountain, including around lift mazes, congested areas and slow ski zones, for their safety and others.

If you are not done with your holiday shopping, we have some great gifts on the pro shop on our website and in the office where we sell Winter Carnival posters and buffs. Local artist and club parent Joanne Orce created this year’s colorful Winter Carnival poster. Joanne is the mom of Kenny in the AMP program. The art makes me smile when thinking about the wonderful activities our athletes enjoy at Howelsen Hill.

SSWSC will host one of our premier events next week! The Murphy Roberts Holiday Classic alpine races return December 19–22 with four days of racing, GS at Steamboat Ski Resort, and slalom at Howelsen Hill. The highlight of these high-level races is always the Night Slalom on Wednesday night, December 21, at Howelsen Hill. Specific event start times and venues can be found on our website. I look forward to seeing you enjoying the festivities and cheering on our athletes and numerous alumni who will participate in these races.

I hope you have noticed the dazzling holiday lights on the lodge and other buildings around the base of Howelsen Hill. The lighting is the result of a new partnership between the SSWSC and Aspen Tree Service & Lightscapes. We had a fun countdown with the kids on Wednesday night during training for the first lighting of the lodge.

Thank you for your support! I hope you and your athlete are having a positive experience in our programs. We are here to help whenever needed.

Have a terrific week.

Sarah Floyd

Murphy Roberts Holiday Classic - December 19-22, 2022

The 21st Annual Murphy Roberts Holiday Classic races return to Steamboat Springs next week, featuring top regional, collegiate, and nationally ranked racers from around the country, December 19-22, 2022. This year’s race includes giant slalom races on Steamboat Ski Resort and slalom races on Howelsen Hill. The night slalom and festival, including firepits, happy hour, and spectating some of the fastest alpine skiers in the nation under the lights at Howelsen Hill, will take place on Wednesday night, December 21, with women scheduled to start at 5:30pm and men, start at 6:45pm. The high-stakes alpine ski races include over $34,000 in prize money. “When Chris Puckett and David Baldinger started the Holiday Classic, their goal was to bring an event to the U.S. with a European feel where the whole town comes out and celebrates these high-level racers. The prize money ensures that the best racers come and put on a show, and the party atmosphere makes it a can’t-miss event. Ski racing fans love it, but even those who have never seen a ski race will have a great time with the announcers and festivities around the finish area,” said SSWSC Chief Operating Officer Jon Nolting. 

The Roberts Family has also set up a generous scholarship fund in memory of their son Murphy, for whom the race is named. The annual Murphy Roberts Scholarship Award is presented at the awards ceremony following the night races on December 21. The $1,000 scholarship is awarded to the athlete who best demonstrates a passion for alpine ski racing while selflessly providing a level of enthusiasm, fun, and team participation; traits of the late Murphy Roberts, a former SSWSC alpine athlete who passed away unexpectedly in 2016 at the age of 22. 

Giant slalom races will all take place on All Out at Steamboat Ski Resort on December 19 and 20, and the slalom races will take place on the face of Howelsen Hill on December 21 and 22. All races will start at around 9am, except for the night slaloms on December 21.

Spectators are encouraged to come early and join the festivities; bring cowbells and cheer on the locals in this unique event. For the night races on December 21, enjoy the festivities while warming beside the fire pits and watching the racers under the lights! All races will be live-streamed; more information or to watch click HERE, or search Murphy Roberts Holiday Classic on YouTube.

Mission Mt. Mangart - JANUARY 9, 2023

The SSWSC and Special Olympics Steamboat and Yampa Valley are hosting a showing of the 10th Mountain Division Documentary, Mission Mt. Mangart, an award-winning documentary by Colorado Snowsports Hall of Fame inductee Chris Anthony, in partnership with the Tread of Pioneers Museum. The showing will be on January 9 from 5-8:30pm in Olympian Hall. Tickets are $50 and include beer, wine, and chili. Tickets are on sale now!

The Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club Show, sponsored by Honey Stinger, and hosted by Nicole DeBoom, will inspire and educate sports parents, athletes, and coaches with unique perspectives and insights into the winter sports world.

NEW EPISODE THIS WEEK: Trust Your Kids’ Journeys with Millie & Gardner Flanigan

A double rainbow treat this episode with the incredible, insightful, resilient Flanigan power couple - Millie and Gardner! With this interview, we are building on our parent-perspective series. The Flanigans are long-time club supporters; as they mention today, they were involved in the club even before they had kids! Millie is currently a Physician Assistant and worked for 22 years in family medicine now works full-time in mental health as a Psychiatric PA. Gardner is the Executive Director of STARS. They have two kids, Bode (20) and Merritt (15) who provide the foundation for this conversation (unbeknownst to them)!

SSWSC Featured Silver Support Partner:

Nordic Excavating

Summit Lynch

The snowboard program nominated Summit Lynch as our Athlete of the Week. Summit joined the Junior Snowboard Team this season and from the beginning he has been a source of joy for the team, said Jr Team Head Coach Tim Hickory. He’s a multi-discipline athlete competing in both Freestyle and SBX. He’s eager to challenge himself to grow in the sport and is unafraid to try new things. 

It's inspiring for the coaches to watch one of the younger athletes on the team step into a new environment and thrive. We could not be more thrilled to have Summit as a part of our competitive snowboard program. Keep crushing it, Summit!

Parking information for Traveling Athletes

Athletes are encouraged to get a ride to Howelsen when leaving for team travel rather than driving a car and parking at Howelsen. We cannot guarantee you will not get a ticket. If you must drive please park near the van your team is taking on the trip and notify your coach.

SSWSC Men's Alpine Ski Athletes Compete in NorAm Cup Races in Copper Mountain

Several Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club alpine ski athletes competed in the NorAm Cup last week at Copper Mountain, posting fast times for some of the youngest competitors in the field. The NorAm Cup (North American Cup) is organized by the International Ski Federation and takes place in North America, with athletes competing from the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The 2022-2023 NorAm Cup series offers races throughout the United States and Canada and often serves as a pipeline for young athletes to earn a spot on the U.S. Alpine Team and qualification for international races. The Copper Mountain races were the first speed events of the season, with a downhill race on Wednesday and Thursday and super g races on Friday and Saturday. 

Photo Caption: Jeremy Nolting at Copper Mountain

Last Wednesday's downhill race was designated as the National Downhill Championship. Jeremy Nolting posted the fastest time for SSWSC placing 4th Junior and 17th overall, Laiken Roth was close behind, earning the 6th place spot for Juniors and 20th overall; rounding out the top 10 for Juniors was Roman Elvidge placing 10th for the Juniors, and 25th overall. Other racers included Jonah Fleischer - 27th overall, Charlie Welch - 36th overall, Daniel Ferucci - 38th overall, and Askel Kitt - 50th overall. For the women, Zoie Palmer was 20th overall, and Greta Goldsmith was 32nd overall. The NorAm races continued on Thursday, December 8, with a second downhill race. Thursday, it was Laiken Roth’s turn to post the fastest time for SSWSC in the downhill, placing 20th overall and Jeremy Nolting continued a fast pace placing 21st. Jeremy Nolting continued his fast pace during the super g races placing 19th on Friday, December 9 and 24th on Saturday, December 10.

SSWSC Cross Country Athlete Trey Jones Successful at SuperTour in Sun Valley, Alumni Finn O'Connell earns a spot on World Cup

SSWSC athletes found success at the Super Tour cross country ski races in Sun Valley, Idaho, last week, with podium finishes in each race. SSWSC alumni and U.S. Ski Team athlete Finn O’Connell won the classic mass start 15K race on Thursday, December 8, U16/U18/U20 assistant coach David Norris placed 2nd, and current SSWSC athlete was 27th, 5th in the junior category. On Saturday, December 10, in the classic sprint qualifier, Trey Jones qualified 19th and 2nd in the junior category. In the classic sprint heats, Jones finished 18th overall. On Sunday, December 11, coach Norris continued his podium streak, placing 2nd in the skate interval start, O’Connell placed 5th, and Jones was 22nd overall, 4th in the junior category.  

The U.S. Ski and Snowboard SuperTour presented by the National Nordic Foundation is the highest level of competition in the United States. Top racers compete in a variety of disciplines at seven different venues throughout the season. O’Connell’s success during the first period of the SuperTour earns him a spot on the World Cup circuit. He will join the U.S Ski Team for the next period of World Cup races at the Tour de Ski in Val Müstair, Switzerland, Oberstdorf, Germany, and Val Di Fiemme, Italy.

WINTER START SKI JUMPING AND NORDIC COMBINED

Photo Credit: Charlie Karleen

LIGHT THE LODGE at HOWELSEN HILL

Fighting for their right: Women’s Nordic athletes make statement at winter start competition - Steamboat Pilot & Today

Steamboat Springs organizations partner to screen documentary on 10th Mountain Division - Steamboat Pilot & Today

Steamboat Springs' 'Super Bowl:' 100 years of tradition at winter festival - The Colorado Springs Gazette

BAP, Big Agnes | Moe's Original BBQ | Honey Stinger | Aqua Vita Spas

Melinda H. Sherman, P.C.| Northwest Data Services |

Alpine Lumber |Letson Enterprises, Inc.