6.17.13
The Steamboat TV 18 Morning Show is being broadcast live from Ski Haus every weekday morning this summer. Host Mike Polucci will keep us all up to date on what’s happening in the ‘Boat. And of course, Ski Haus staff members will be joining the show to highlight cool product, Ski Haus Specials, and upcoming store events. Nobody knows exactly what will happen during the show… it is live tv afterall!
Photo: MS
Quote of the Week: “Thanks to television, for the first time the young are seeing history made before it is censored by their elders.” Margaret Mead
6.10.13
We’re hoping for a summer of rainbows. The rain drops that helped produce this rainbow were fleeting at best. The good news was that this rainbow formed in the first place. After last summer’s drought everyone in this mountain valley is looking for a bit of relief. We’ve had a nice wet spring with some late snow in May. Now we’ve got our fingers crossed for one of those old-time Colorado summers with afternoon showers going off right at 3:00 pm and clearing by 6:00 pm. Do an afternoon rain dance for us every chance you get. We’ll do the same!
Photo: MS
Quote of the Week: “Do not be angry with the rain; it simply does not know how to fall upwards.” Vladimir Nabokov
Beautiful blue above and new green all around below. This Memorial Day weekend has turned out to be a beauty in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. Not only is this weekend the unofficial kick off to Summer but it actually feels like summer. Temperatures are warming. Southern breezes are pushing light clouds and melting the high country snow. Creeks are up and aspen buds are opening up faster than you see. Welcome to Summer everyone. Enjoy it because it will go fast!Photo: MS
Quote of the Week: “Summer afternoon—summer afternoon; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language.” Henry James
We love where we live. Two of our employees decided on a quick hike up Fish Creek Falls Trail to end their day. What a great way to put the day to rest. A secluded trail. Evening light. Good company and bit of wild-ness. One of the highlights was being in the right place at the right time to witness a couple kayakers paddling by… The boaters had the same ideas about ending their day. The only difference was the mode of transportation. And that is our point… filling our days with what makes us happy is advice we will never tire. And taking our own advice to heart is a worthy and daily goal. Be happy out there!Quote of the Week: “Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions.” Dalai Lama
Cam and Ben from Nemo Equipment stopped by Ski Haus last Friday. They drove their tricked-out Jeep all the way from New Hampshire to give the staff a clinic on Nemo tents, sleeping bags, and pads. It was a great visit and needless to say the staff was pretty impressed with their road trip vehicle. These guys are pretty self-contained. The temptation to just drive where ever happens to be next and not check in with the home office is pretty darn tempting… Quick! Someone grab the keys while they’re not looking!5.6.13
The mountain biking trails around Steamboat Springs are a little bit away from ready but that doesn’t mean there is no mountain biking to be found. A few of the Ski Haus crew went down towards Eagle (lower elevation and warmer temps) and rode some great trails down there. James, Stoller, Ben and photographer Trevyn Newpher took advantage of the perfect day. Dry trails and blue sky have been pretty rare so far this Spring so to hit a perfect day and spin off a few miles should be marked down as extra special. We’re thinking as we slowly grind our way to Summer there will be lots of extra special mountain biking days to come.
Quote of the Week: “It isn’t the mountain ahead that wears you out; it’s the grain of sand in your shoe.” Robert W. Service
Photo proof that Spring is coming. A secret stash of rhubarb makes its way up and out of the recently thawed earth. Now good advice says not to rush your seasons. First things first and then so on… First Spring. Rhubarb shows itself. Then Summer. Rhubarb matures. Then the harvest. Pie Season. Can’t wait!Quote of the Week: “When you die, if you get a choice between going to regular heaven or pie heaven, choose pie heaven. It might be a trick, but if it’s not, mmmmmmmm, boy.” Jack Handy
This photo was taken closing day at the Steamboat Ski Area. Ski buddies Flint, Kara, and Gary, (and of course, Buddy Werner) paused just long enough to capture a fun day and a nice memory. Closing day conditions were fantastic and the northwest snow machine has been pumping snow across our area for weeks now. Since closing day the Steamboat Springs area has picked up tons of snow increasing the snowpack and moisture content. We hope this weather pattern continues for a long time. Maybe our drought is on the wane… We’ll keep our fingers crossed and keep a grateful thought for every bit of moisture we receive. In the meantime… here’s to a really fun winter season and we’re looking forward to the next one!
So long ski season. Steamboat’s lifts closed yesterday so that means anyone looking for easy uphill access in this valley will have to rely solely on their own power. Speaking of power! Ski Haus repair shop tech, Corwin Gugel, uses the power of the Montana Crystal Glide tuning machine to buff into shape one of our customer’s skis. It may be time to think about putting the boards away for the summer… A nice tune now will ensure you’re ready to ride come next season. Have fun hunting the backcountry turns until then!
We aren’t done with winter yet! April is proving to be unpredictable which is just how we like April to behave. Rain and snow, thunder and lightning, sunshine and bluebirds! Take your pick and at some point along the day you will see or hear some or all of these! These aspens will enjoy the moisture that the most recent storm left on their branches (as will we all).Quote of the Week: “Nature is full of genius, full of divinity; so that not a snowflake escapes its fashioning hand.” Henry David Thoreau
This past Saturday the Steamboat Coureur was held up on Rabbit Ears Pass. This is a 25k or 50k Nordic Race, Ski and Bike Race, or Unicycle Race. The day was a blast with perfect track conditions and a great fielld of participants with nothing on their minds except racing and fun. One of the great things about the Coureur course is skiing through the pine trees at around 10,000 foot elevation. The scenery is spectacular! With a quick glance you can see all the way over to Rocky Mountain National Park, the Rawahs, the Gore Range, and our own Walton Peak. Everyone had a great time and this was a great highlight to wrap up the Nordic ski season. If you missed it the past two years – you should really plan on attending next years race!
Full speed ahead! Bentley, the unofficial shop dog of Ski Haus, cuts it loose on the groomed dog/Nordic trails at Catamount. He gets very excited for his ski days – so do his parents!
First ride of the Season. Jazz and Remington were happy to get out and stretch their legs this week. The boys were sure footed and steady despite some strong wind. As winter moves into Spring and their winter coats get exchanged for shiny and bright… Longer rides will be the new normal.
Hi ho hi ho it’s off to work we go! Gary Dickerson, Ski Haus Repair Shop Manager, works on sharpening a customer’s ski edge. If you live to play – on some days you have to pay. The more you use your skis and boards the more you should maintain them. If your edges are sharp – you stay sharp too!
It’s been a bluebird kinda week here in Steamboat Springs. We have had a nice snowstorm that featured some heavy moisture content (which we need) and we have also had our first rising temperatures of the winter. Chinook winds from the South and temperatures into the high 30′s and low 40′s. It is a welcome change of the weather (with some misgivings as well). It is always nice to feel Spring is on the way but lots of us are not willing to say goodbye to winter temps and snow. I think those who are dreaming of Springs and those not wanting to see Winter go away will get their wish. Another snowstorm is heading our way this weekend! Stay tuned…
Snow, snow, come today and don’t go away - we still want to play, play, play! Steamboat Springs has been enjoying the snow machine lately. The winter storms keep rolling through leaving plenty of wonderful snow. The nice thing about this winter besides the consistent snow is the cold temperatures that keeps the snow nicer and fresher longer. The Steamboat Ski Area is skiing very good. The backcountry is skiing very good (be safe the avalanche danger is considerable), the Nordic trails are skiing excellent, and the snowshoers are all having fun too! We only wish the snow will continue through March and into April and, what the heck, and nice May snowstorm wouldn’t bother anyone around here either!Flowered white obliterate…
Snow…unceasing snow” ― Hashin, Japanese Haiku
We think that if everyone had a view like this to start off their day – the world would be a pretty darn happy place. Well, it’s too bad that is not the case but if you think about it then populations as big as those like New York City’s would be living in placing with views like this and the view wouldn’t be like this any longer. Lots of those people probably consider this view too foreign, odd, peculiar, or unsettling. They probably prefer the city scape views that they live with and those make them happy. Ok, if so, then maybe if everyone is happy with the view where they live why isn’t the world a happier place? Maybe if everyone took a moment and started their day looking at the morning view they had and took that moment to appreciate what they have (friends, family, and loved ones), and what they have to offer (friendship, love, kindness), then maybe the world would be a happier place. Ok – everyone take a moment…“True happiness comes from the joy of deeds well done, the zest of creating things new.” Antoine de Saint-Exupery
Steamboat received some terrific snow the past few days. Over a foot of fresh pow came down just in time for Winter Carnival. What can be better? Fresh Snow. Winter Carnival. It sounds so much like a carefree lifestyle where all it is is play in deep snow, ski, snowboard, play in the Carnival and… oh yeah, someone has to plow and shovel all this fun… Here’s the view from a snow throwing Bobcat. Now don’t get us wrong. Keep the snow coming is all we ask. Winter can last into May if we’d have our preference. For every day of snow-blowing and shoveling there is a day of enjoying the winter high country on our skis or snowboards… Have fun out there and play as hard as you work!
A few of us got a chance to go ski all the new Cross Country skis and boots over at Devils Thumb Nordic Center recently. All the manufacturers were there (Salomon, Fischer, Rossignol, Swix, Alpina, Karhu, Madshus, and Atomic) with new 2013/2014 skate skis and classic skis, boots and bindings, and poles. The day was perfect. It started right at 0 degrees and warmed up to the low 20′s. The snow was good and the wax was fast. We classic skied in the morning and skate skied in the afternoon. It was a full day and we were pretty beat by the end of it. Pictured above are Jessica Collier and Kevin McGarity. What were their favorite skis and boots? You’ll have to come in and quiz them and compare notes!1.21.13
Here is just a simple photo to get everyone psyched up for the 6th Annual Ski Haus Classic Race slated for February 3rd. Start your Super Bowl Sunday off right with a quick 2k, 5k, 8k, or 15k Classic style ski race. I mean – how can you not be excited? Just look at this classic track! Lake Catamount, where our race has been held each year, lays down some of the best track you will ever ski – hands down – by far – no exaggeration… The Ski Haus Classic Race begins at 10:00 am sharp, Sunday February 3rd. Pre-register at Ski Haus. (Everyone gets a race t-shirt and there is a drawing for prizes right after the race). Zup! Zup! Zup! See you out there. Love the classic!
Photo: MS
“The first thing is to love your sport. Never do it to please someone else. It has to be yours.” Peggy Fleming
1.14.13
Christy Borden sent us this photo of her Voile Charger BC skis. She was out skiing some hills west of town the other night and caught this wonderful sunset from on top of her skis. We aren’t exactly sure of the quote but she says her Voile Charger skis are the best skis she has ever had and if she could only have one pair of skis to use for the rest of time… we’ll the Voile Charger would be it. Now we don’t wish ony a single a pair skis for anyone to use but that is quite a statement especially coming from a very accomplished skier like Christy. Here’s to great skis and enjoying great sunsets!
Photo: Christy Borden
“The best thing about the future is it comes one day at a time.” Abraham Lincoln
1.7.13
Ski Haus employees, Gary and Kara, along with Kara’s boyfriend, John, make the best of a great day out back skiing into the Middle Fork of Fish Creek, Steamboat Springs, Colorado. The three spent the day harvesting powder and sowing the seeds for next year’s turns, too!
Photo: Gary Dickerson
“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” Eleanor Roosevelt
