Steamboat Cup Youth Snowsports Fun Competition Series
Join SSWSC on Wednesday nights from 4-6 p.m., January through March 2025 for the community Steamboat Cup Series— a local youth snowsport competition series at Howelsen Hill for any skiers ages 7-13 years old. Kids are encouraged to explore various disciplines and are introduced to competition in a fun, low-stress environment, including alpine racing, cross country, ski jumping, big mountain, park, and mogul skiing.
- WHEN: Wednesday evenings, starting January 8, 2025.
- TIME: 4-6 p.m. (bib pickup starting at 3:30 p.m.)
- COST Free (online pre-registration required).
- WHO Open to all kids in the Steamboat community ages 7-13.
- LIFT ACCESS: Howelsen Hill lift ticket or season pass needed.
Registration Information:
All participants must register in advance. Registration is free, but participants will need a season pass or lift ticket, purchased separately at Howelsen Hill. Registration opens two weeks before each event and closes at 4 p.m. the day before the event—there is no on-site registration.
REGISTER HERE
Event Schedule:
Bib pickup for all events is between 3:30 p.m. and 4:15 p.m. at Howelsen Hill. Participants should be in their gear and ready to go by 4:15 p.m. Generally, the events are done by 6 p.m., though Hitchen’s Brothers Ski Jumping events run longer. Check the event webpage for additional schedule details for each event, and an email will be sent to all registered participants with specifics the night before the event.
VOLUNTEER HERE
- WEEK 1 - January 8: Alpine Duals and Cross Country Relay
Two events to choose from this week! Or be a ski meister and do both!
ALPINE DUALS
Skiers race side-by-side on parallel race courses on the lower face at Howelsen. With the clock at the bottom, skiers will get multiple chances to try to beat their time, and their partner!- Must wear a helmet, hard-shell over ear helmet recommended.
- Courses will be panel gates, no special gear is required.
CROSS COUNTRY RELAY
Skiers will be teamed up with others and race around a course at the rodeo arena.- No special gear is required.
- Bib pickup will be at the yurt at the bottom of the chairlift.
Racers that want to do both events should start with cross country, then when the races are over come to the alpine duals course and check in at the start. These racers (called “ski meisters”) may only get a couple of runs on the alpine race course.
- WEEK 2 - January 15: Ski Jumping and Moguls Competition
Two events to choose from this week! Or be a ski meister and do both!
MOGULS COMPETITION
Show your skills and style on the junior mogul course on the lower face, then throw your best trick on the jump at the bottom of the course. Get a score from our judges, then go try to beat it on your next run!- Must wear a helmet.
- No special gear is required.
SKI JUMPING
The first of four Hitchens Brothers Wednesday Night Jump events with four jump hills to choose from. Be thankful you live in Steamboat, home of Colorado’s only nordic jumping complex. Never jumped before? This event is for you, try the small hills first.- Open to all kids 8-13 years old (born in 2011-2016)
- Skis only - no snowboards
- Helmets are required
- There is one training jump, then two competition jumps
- There are awards for this competition, will be right after the competition concludes on each hill
The ski jump competition runs a bit longer than the other Steamboat Cups. See the schedule below.
Age Categories Suggested Hill Arrival Time First Jump New jumpers HS8 4:00pm 4:30pm Born in 2015-2016 HS20 4:00pm 4:30pm Born in 2013-2014 HS30 5:30pm 6:00pm Born in 2011-2012** HS30 5:30pm 6:00pm Born in 2011-2012 HS45 6:15pm 6:45pm **Jumpers not in the SSWSC Ski Jumping/Nordic Combined program
Skiers who would like to do both competitions should do the ski jumping first if jumping the HS8 or HS20. If jumping the HS30 or HS45, do the mogul competition first.
REGISTER HERE
- WEEK 3 - January 22: Freeride Competition
Ski the most creative and challenging lines on the side of the face at Howelsen Hill. Show the judges and the crowd your style and your skill. Get multiple chances to try to make your most exciting run!
- A helmet is required.
- No special equipment is needed.
- WEEK 4 - January 29: Ski Jumping
The second of four Hitchens Brothers Wednesday Night Jump events with four jump hills to choose from. Be thankful you live in Steamboat, home of Colorado’s only nordic jumping complex. Never jumped before? This event is for you, try the small hills first.
- Open to all kids 8-13 years old (born in 2011-2016)
- Skis only - no snowboards
- Helmets are required
- There is one training jump, then two competition jumps
- There are awards for this competition, will be right after the competition concludes on each hill
The ski jump competition runs a bit longer than the other Steamboat Cups. See the schedule below.
Age Categories Suggested Hill Arrival Time First Jump New jumpers HS8 4:00pm 4:30pm Born in 2015-2016 HS20 4:00pm 4:30pm Born in 2013-2014 HS30 5:30pm 6:00pm Born in 2011-2012** HS30 5:30pm 6:00pm Born in 2011-2012 HS45 6:15pm 6:45pm **Jumpers not in the SSWSC Ski Jumping/Nordic Combined program
- WEEK 5 - February 5: Cross Country Parent-Child Relay
Children do not need a parent to participate in the cross country relay but parents are encouraged to join!
You can get a free trail pass for this race with your Winter Carnival button!
- WEEK 6 - February 12: Ski Jumping
The third of four Hitchens Brothers Wednesday Night Jump events with four jump hills to choose from. Be thankful you live in Steamboat, home of Colorado’s only nordic jumping complex. Never jumped before? This event is for you, try the small hills first.
- Open to all kids 8-13 years old (born in 2011-2016)
- Skis only - no snowboards
- Helmets are required
- There is one training jump, then two competition jumps
- There are awards for this competition, will be right after the competition concludes on each hill
The ski jump competition runs a bit longer than the other Steamboat Cups. See the schedule below.
Age Categories Suggested Hill Arrival Time First Jump New jumpers HS8 4:00pm 4:30pm Born in 2015-2016 HS20 4:00pm 4:30pm Born in 2013-2014 HS30 5:30pm 6:00pm Born in 2011-2012** HS30 5:30pm 6:00pm Born in 2011-2012 HS45 6:15pm 6:45pm **Jumpers not in the SSWSC Ski Jumping/Nordic Combined program
- WEEK 7 - February 26: Alpine Duals Race
Skiers race side-by-side on parallel race courses on the lower face at Howelsen. With the clock at the bottom, skiers will get multiple chances to try to beat their time, and their partner!
- Must wear a helmet, hard-shell over ear helmet recommended.
- Courses will be panel gates, no special gear is required.
- WEEK 8 - March 5: Moguls Competition and Cross Country Fun Race
Two events to choose from this week! Or be a ski meister and do both!
MOGULS COMPETITION
Show your skills and style on the junior mogul course on the lower face, then throw your best trick on the jump at the bottom of the course. Get a score from our judges, then go try to beat it on your next run!- Must wear a helmet.
- No special gear is required.
CROSS COUNTRY FUN RACE
A fun race on cross country skis through a course at the rodeo arena.- No special gear is required.
- Bib pickup will be at the yurt at the bottom of the chairlift.
Racers that want to do both events should start with cross country, then when the races are over come to the moguls course and check in at the start. These racers (called “ski meisters”) may only get a couple of runs on the moguls course.
- WEEK 9 - March 12: Ski Jumping
The final of four Hitchens Brothers Wednesday Night Jump events with four jump hills to choose from. Be thankful you live in Steamboat, home of Colorado’s only nordic jumping complex. Never jumped before? This event is for you, try the small hills first.
- Open to all kids 8-13 years old (born in 2011-2016)
- Skis only - no snowboards
- Helmets are required
- There is one training jump, then two competition jumps
- There are awards for this competition, will be right after the competition concludes on each hill
The ski jump competition runs a bit longer than the other Steamboat Cups. See the schedule below.
Age Categories Suggested Hill Arrival Time First Jump New jumpers HS8 4:00pm 4:30pm Born in 2015-2016 HS20 4:00pm 4:30pm Born in 2013-2014 HS30 5:30pm 6:00pm Born in 2011-2012** HS30 5:30pm 6:00pm Born in 2011-2012 HS45 6:15pm 6:45pm **Jumpers not in the SSWSC Ski Jumping/Nordic Combined program
- WEEK 10 - March 19: Alpine Duals Race
Skiers race side-by-side on parallel race courses on the lower face at Howelsen. With the clock at the bottom, skiers will get multiple chances to try to beat their time, and their partner!
- Must wear a helmet, hard-shell over ear helmet recommended.
- Courses will be panel gates, no special gear is required.
Special Events for Community Youth Similar to Steamboat Cups
*February 7 - Soda Pop Slalom
*February 6 - Park Jam Winter Carnival
*Community Jam schedule - free community events open to youth in snowboarding and freeskiing
*These events that are also free community youth events hosted by SSWSC but are not part of the Steamboat Cup
All events are held at Howelsen Hill Ski Area. The Steamboat Cup Series is hosted by the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club.
To learn about volunteer opportunities for these events, email SSWSC.