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20 Under 40: Vladan Chase is voice of Steamboat sports

Vladen Chase

STEAMBOAT SPRINGS — You could say that Vladan Chase knew early that he has a gift for gab — and using that to spike listeners’ appreciation for sports.

“I’ve been wanting to announce since I was 6 years old playing knee hockey,” said Chase, 26, the voice of Steamboat sports for Steamboat Radio. “I love it. It just comes naturally.”

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When: 5 to 7 p.m. July 26

Where: Haymaker Patio Grill

Cost: $35, $15 for Young Professionals Network members

Tickets: SteamboatToday.com
/20under40

That’s also the age Chase moved to Steamboat Springs from Woodstock, Vermont, with his family. He played sports throughout his upbringing here, starring on the Sailors hockey and tennis teams — he took third at state his junior year — before attending the Colorado Media School in Denver for two years.

After he returned and earned his business administration degree from Colorado Mountain College, he began contract work with Steamboat Radio. It only took a few syllables before he was invited to come on board full time.

“It’s cool because station manager Brian Harvey called my games when I was in high school,” said Chase, who specializes in play-by-play and now travels all over the state to bring local fans coverage of nearly all Sailor sports. “It’s great to be working with him.”

By default, Chase said his favorite sport to call is hockey, but he also covers boys and girls soccer, lacrosse and more.

“We’re definitely covering way more sports now than we used to,” he said. “We cover seven sports over three separate seasons.”

Eardrums elsewhere are also benefitting from his innate ability to understand the inner workings of the sports he covers and articulate that into instant commentary. This spring, Chase traveled to Salt Lake City for the second straight year to call play-by-play for the MCLA National Championships for lacrosse.

But his favorite thing to do is give back to his hometown by calling local sports.

“It’s great to go through the different school classes every season and see these kids develop,” he said. “And I love fostering relationships with students and parents and seeing the engagement this community has. I love helping impact these kids along the way.”

The parents of these local athletes also appreciate his contributions.

“He’s a true asset to the community,” said fellow radio personality Shannon Lukens, whose son Penn played lacrosse for the Sailors. “He’s very good at what he does — I’ve never seen a radio station cover local sports like he does. We are lucky to have him. And the parents love him.”

As well as supporting the community through his sports calls, Chase expands his reach through his No Boundaries show, where he interviews athletes and coaches from Hayden and South Routt County. He also volunteers for Colorado Northwest Community Health’s Music with Vision program and steps in for the radio station’s Road Report and other coverage when needed.

“Steamboat is such a great small town community,” he said. “It’s great to be a part of it.”


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