The season is underway for Steamboat Resort. First in line were a pair of brothers, Sal and Charlie Malone. They got to the chair the night before. Early morning lift line video
Sal is 16 and a junior at Steamboat Springs High School. Their dad, Mike, is a Steamboat Ski Instructor.
The line got a bit longer as the morning progressed. Ski area staff was passing out Champagne Powder donuts and Korbel mimosas.
Guests arrived via the new escalator from the Transit Center.
Then Steamboat Resort President and COO Rob Perlman presented a check for $50,000 to Sarah Floyd, the Executive Director of the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club. The ski area makes an annual donation to the club.
The biggest cheers from the crowd were when the snowmaking crew went through the lift line in their bright orange coats. Snowmaking crews will continue to take advantage of cold nighttime temperatures and assist Mother Nature around the clock when conditions are conducive.
Then Rob Perlman got the crowd going with the countdown to the first chair. Video of countdown to the first chair
Deb Werner was on hand to supervise the lift ops. She is the Director of Lift Operations for the ski area and has been working at Steamboat Resort for 51 years.
And if you’re looking for a cup of coffee from Gondola Joe’s, you’ll need to instead look for the Hot Mess. It’s a food truck set up on the plaza until base area construction is finished.
Steamboat Radio’s Shannon Lukens was asked to emcee the festivities on opening morning.