Steamboat Pilot & Today

Wednesday, Feb. 8
-- 5:30 p.m. -- Opening Ceremonies (Olympian Hall, Howelsen Hill Lodge, downtown off Fifth Street). Sponsored by Steamboat Meat & Seafood Co., Chamber Ambassadors and Pepsi Cola. A celebration honoring the Winter Carnival queen, her Court of Attendants and Little Princesses, the Grand Marshals and, if we're lucky, a special appearance by the Lighted Man.

Thursday, Feb. 9
-- 4:30 p.m. -- Cross-Country Obstacle Race (Howelsen Hill). Sponsored by SportsMed. A fun and entertaining obstacle race for young cross-country skiers, ages 5 to 12. Spectators are welcome, and pre-registration is not required, but a release form must be signed or already be on file with the Winter Sports Club to participate.

-- 7 to 8 p.m. -- 20-, 30- and 50-meter jumping (Howelsen Hill). An opportunity for those ages 11 and older to take a shot at ski jumping on Howelsen's famous jumps. Alpine, telemark or jumping skis only. Register the night of the event from 5:45 to 6:45 p.m. in the Fireplace Room at Howelsen Hill Lodge.

-- 7 to 8 p.m. -- Snowboarding Jam Session (Howelsen Hill). Sponsored by PowderTools. Under the lights of the Howelsen Hill Terrain Park, this event is open to anyone looking to have some fun on a board. Prizes provided by PowderTools. Pre-registration is not required, but a release form must be signed or already be on file with the Winter Sports Club to participate.

-- 8 p.m. -- Slide Show (Olympian Hall, Howelsen Hill Lodge). Sponsored by Colorado Mountain College, Alpine Campus Outdoor Education Program and Backdoor Sports.

Friday, Feb.10
-- 9 a.m. to noon -- Alpine Ski Flying Training (Howelsen Hill)

-- 10:30 a.m. -- Soda Pop Slalom (Steamboat Ski Area, Headwall ski trail). Sponsored by Christy Sports and Pepsi Cola. This is a fun race open to any skier or snowboarder through the fifth grade who is not an age-class racer with the Winter Sports Club. Pre-registration required at the Winter Sports Club office. Registration deadline is 6 p.m. Feb. 9.

-- 1:30 p.m. -- Bumps, Jumps and K-18 Ski Jumping (Howelsen Hill). An enjoyable time for children ages 4 to 11 to take to the slopes of Howelsen Hill for some "flying fun." Pre-registration required at the Winter Sports Club office. Registration deadline is noon Feb. 10.

-- 3 to 6 p.m. -- Amateur Alpine Ski Flying Training (Howelsen Hill). Training for the evening's event.

-- 6 to 7 p.m. --Tubing Party (Howelsen). Sponsored by Lincoln Avenue Printers and Backdoor Sports. Fun for the whole family. Bring your own tube, or tubes will be available to share.

-- 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. -- Amateur Alpine Ski Flying Night Event (Howelsen Hill). This is a must-see Gelandesprung (a German word that means terrain jump) ski jumping event with amateur-level participants taking flight off the K-68 hill in Alpine skis and boots rather than the usual ski jumping equipment. Call Pat Arnone at 879-8141 for more information.

-- 7 p.m. -- Dual Slalom Bicycle Race (Howelsen Hill). Sponsored by Wheels Bike Shop and the Winter Sports Club Cycling Club. An exciting, on-snow mountain bike event down the face of Howelsen Hill complete with thrills and spills. The event includes practice, qualifying and final competition rounds. Register at 5:30 p.m. the night of the event in the Fireplace Room at Howelsen Hill Lodge. For more information, call Chris Johns with Wheels Bike Shop at 846-7433.

-- 7 p.m. -- Chariot Racing Welcome Function (Boothill Bar & Grill, Celebrity Resorts Steamboat Springs-Hill Top, off U.S. Highway 40 on Highpoint Drive). Open to anyone interested in chariot racing, the event begins at 7 p.m. with a meet and greet with the racers, followed by live Calcutta betting for Saturday and Sunday's chariot races.

Saturday, Feb. 11
-- 8 to 11 a.m. -- Knights of Columbus Pancake Breakfast (Holy Name Catholic Church, 524 Oak St). Hosted annually by the Knights of Columbus, this function is the perfect way to fuel up for all the day's activities. In addition to a Winter Carnival button, a nominal admission fee is charged.

-- 9 a.m. to noon -- Street Events (Downtown, Lincoln Avenue). Sponsored by First National Bank of Steamboat Springs. A wildly popular and entertaining show featuring children on skis and snowboards being pulled behind horses through the snow-covered streets of downtown Steamboat. Races include street slalom, skijoring, ring and spear, donkey jump and the famous adult shovel race. The horse events are for children ages 6 to 14, and there also are non-horse events for infants to 14-year-olds. Pre-registration is required at the Steamboat Springs Chamber Resort Association office. Call the Chamber at 879-0880 for more information.

-- 9 a.m. to noon -- Pro Alpine Ski Flying Training (Howelsen Hill) Training for Sunday's event. Please see Sunday's event description.

-- 11 a.m. -- Snowboot Softball (Klumker Field, Howelsen Hill). A unique twist on softball. Play this summer sport on a snow-covered field. Open to those 16 and older looking to have some softball fun.

-- Noon to 2 p.m. -- International Muzzle-loading Biathlon (Howelsen Hill). In this unique endurance event, participants clad in vintage frontier attire combine marksmanship -- using early Americana black powder firearms -- with cross-country skiing on primitive equipment. Call Paul Yonekawa at 870-4530.

-- 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. -- Steamboat Telemark Revival (Howelsen Hill). Sponsored by Backdoor Sports and the Winter Sports Club's Telemark Program. Free-heel skiers join in competition on the steep face of Howelsen Hill. This laid-back and fun event is open to men and women telemarkers of all ages. Register from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. the day of the event in the Fireplace Room at Howelsen Hill Lodge. Call 846-4399.

-- 1 p.m. -- Chariot Races (Brent Romick Rodeo Arena, downtown off Fifth Street). Drivers ride in a chariot behind a two-horse team in this head-to-head competition. The horses dash down a straightaway to a thrilling and thunderous finish, typically in 30 seconds or less. Trackside Calcutta betting. Call Kathy Duncan at 879-0129 for more information.

-- 1 p.m. -- Pro Alpine Ski Flying Qualifying (Howelsen Hill). Qualifying for Sunday's event. Please see Sunday's event description.

-- 6:30 p.m. -- Night Extravaganza (Howelsen Hill). Sponsored by First National Bank of Steamboat Springs and Native Excavating. A must-see evening of entertainment at historic Howelsen Hill featuring a winter sports exhibition, the Lighted Man, glowstick and torchlight parades, fiery hoop jumpers, an elaborate fireworks display and much more.

Sunday, Feb. 12
-- 9 to 11 a.m. -- Street Events (Downtown, Lincoln Avenue). Sponsored by First National Bank of Steamboat Springs. See Saturday's description.

-- 11:30 a.m. -- Diamond Hitch Parade (Downtown, Lincoln Avenue). The diamond hitch consists of at least four skiers. The skiers hold onto points of a rope tied in the shape of one or more diamonds. Animals, people or vehicles may pull the skiers down the snow-filled street. Anyone is welcome to enter the parade. Pre-registration required. Call the Winter Sports Club at 879-0695, ext. 100, for a parade entry form.

-- 1 p.m. -- Pro Alpine Ski Flying Finals (Howelsen Hill). This is a must-see Gelandesprung (a German word that means terrain jump) ski jumping event with participants launching off the K-114 "big hill" in Alpine skis and boots rather than the usual ski jumping equipment. Watch as world records get broken! For more information, call Pat Arnone at 879-8141.

-- 1 p.m. -- Chariot Races (Brent Romick Rodeo Arena). See Saturday's description.

-- 1 to 2 p.m. -- Parent-Child Downhill (Howelsen Hill). Sponsored by Ski Haus and Pepsi Cola. Everyone is a winner in this non-competitive, fun event. An adult and child ski together through Howelsen Hill's terrain. Each child is given a participant ribbon and is provided an opportunity to have a professional photograph taken on the podium. Pre-registration is not required, but a release form must be signed or already be on file with the Winter Sports Club to participate.