Howelsen Hill Ski Area facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Howelsen Hill |
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| Location | Steamboat Springs, Colorado, US |
| Opened | 1914 |
| Size | |
| K–point | 114 metres (374 ft) |
| Hill size | 127 metres (417 ft) |
| Hill record | 127 m (417 ft) Clint Jones(28 February 2002) |
Hill
Howelsen Hill Ski Area is a special place for winter sports in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. It's not just a regular ski resort. This area is famous for its many ski jumps. The biggest jump here is 127 meters long!
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Discover Howelsen Hill's History
Howelsen Hill is super old and full of amazing stories! It's the oldest ski area in North America that has been open non-stop. Imagine, people have been skiing and jumping here since 1914!
How the Hill Got Started
The very first ski jump at Howelsen Hill was built in the summer of 1914. It was ready for fun just in time for the second annual Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Carnival. This event brought people together to celebrate winter sports.
The area was first called Elk Park. But in 1917, it was renamed to honor Carl Howelsen. He was a Norwegian immigrant who helped start this amazing ski area. The part of the hill for regular skiing (alpine skiing) was added in 1931.
A Training Ground for Champions
Howelsen Hill is known for training many top athletes. It has helped 89 skiers become Olympians! These athletes have made over 130 appearances in the Winter Olympics. Many have also joined the Colorado Ski Hall of Fame and the National Ski Hall of Fame.
The local youth ski team, the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club, trains here. You might even see U.S. Ski Team jumpers practicing their skills.
What Makes Howelsen Hill Special?
This ski area has a vertical drop of 134 meters. It has one chairlift, two moving carpets, and one Poma lift to get skiers up the hill.
Howelsen Hill is open to everyone. The City of Steamboat Springs Parks, Open Space and Recreation Department owns and runs it. It's a truly unique place for winter sports lovers!
Ski Jumping Records at Howelsen Hill
Howelsen Hill has seen some incredible ski jumping records over the years. Here are a few of the earliest ones:
| 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 |
