Steamboat Pilot & Today

Steamboat Springs — If you're planning on attending the Soda Pop Slalom or any other event at the 88th Annual Winter Carnival, you may want to buy your button sometime soon.

There are about 7,000 Winter Carnival buttons on sale in Steamboat Springs.

The Winter Carnival, which is sponsored by the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club, runs Feb. 5-11.

The buttons, which cost $7 each, can be purchased at a number of stores and other locations. They serve as a person's ticket to nearly all of the Winter Carnival events.

The Valentine's Snow Bash Feb. 9 is the only exception.

That event costs $35.

Some of the events that can be seen upon buying the button are the Soda Pop Slalom at Mount Werner, the dual slalom bicycle race at Howelsen Hill and the cross-country obstacle race at Howelsen Hill.

The buttons, which were designed by Steamboat Springs student Laura Varsafsky, are centered around the carnival's theme, "Snow Extravaganza."

Varsafsky, who is a senior, was one of three students in Rich Galusha's art class who was nominated to design the

button.

She won a competition between the three, which gave her the right to design the button.

The money raised from the button sales goes to benefit Winter Sports Club athletes, and to help fund the Winter Carnival, said Deb Smith, button sales co-chairwoman.

Rick DeVos, Winter Sports Club executive director, said nearly all of the proceeds would help benefit the athletes.

Most of the events, he said, have sponsors.

Smith said the buttons have been a longstanding tradition in Steamboat. Smith volunteered, she said, to help raise money for the Winter Sports Club members.

"I think when you see the value of what an organization like this offers to kids today, you want to do whatever you can to help," Smith said.

Anyone interested in volunteering can call 879-0695, ext. 116.