Steamboat Pilot & Today

Steamboat Springs — Although the students in the Steamboat ski band are allowed to wear sneakers to practice these days, come Winter Carnival, they will be strapped into cross-country skis as they slide down Lincoln Avenue blasting "Night Train."

The Steamboat ski band is the only one of its kind in the country, and, after the Diamond Hitch Parade at 11:30 a.m. Sunday, it will be an entire year before they don skis and glide down the street blasting music again.

Dan Isbell, the band leader for Steamboat Springs High School and the middle school, will not be on skis. Isbell has to walk backward and said he would not be able to lead the band on skis. Isbell is in his third year of leading the ski band, a part of the band leader's job description he had not expected.

Although Isbell teaches both high schoolers and middle schoolers, the band is made up primarily of students from the high school, Isbell said.

The students will be put to the test come Sunday, sliding in formation from the Routt County Courthouse to 10th Street without poles.

"It's harder than it looks," Isbell said, pausing. "Well, maybe it looks hard."

Each year, at least one of the skiers invariably takes a dive onto the snowy street, causing the crowd to erupt into laughter, Isbell said.

Isbell chose to have the band play "Night Train" by Jimmy Forrest because it's one of his favorite songs.

The ski band was started in 1936 by high school band teacher Jerry McGuire. McGuire was convinced his students, many of whom could ski, could handle the dual responsibilities of skiing and playing music. Since then, it has evolved into one of the biggest events at the parade.

McGuire came back to Steamboat to watch the event two years ago.

"It's really a lot of fun," Isbell said. "It's definitely a highlight of the

carnival."

Isbell said the students get excited for the show and the publicity it generates.

Dan Isbell, the band leader for Steamboat Springs High School and the middle school, will not be on skis. Isbell has to walk backward and said he would not be able to lead the band on skis. Isbell is in his third year of leading the ski band, a part of the band leader's job description he had not expected.

Although Isbell teaches both high schoolers and middle schoolers, the band is made up primarily of students from the high school, Isbell said.

The students will be put to the test come Sunday, sliding in formation from the Routt County Courthouse to 10th Street without poles.

"It's harder than it looks," Isbell said, pausing. "Well, maybe it looks hard."

Each year, at least one of the skiers invariably takes a dive onto the snowy street, causing the crowd to erupt into laughter, Isbell said.

Isbell chose to have the band play "Night Train" by Jimmy Forrest because it's one of his favorite songs.

The ski band was started in 1936 by high school band teacher Jerry McGuire. McGuire was convinced his students, many of whom could ski, could handle the dual responsibilities of skiing and playing music. Since then, it has evolved into one of the biggest events at the parade.

McGuire came back to Steamboat to watch the event two years ago.

"It's really a lot of fun," Isbell said. "It's definitely a highlight of the

carnival."

Isbell said the students get excited for the show and the publicity it generates.