“The Cowboy Downhill is a signature event for Steamboat because it really draws on a lot of the things that make Steamboat unique,” says ski-area spokeswoman Loryn Kasten. “We’re competitive — we’re home to the most winter Olympians of any town in America — and we’re also rooted in our Western history, with over 400 working ranches here in the Yampa Valley, so it’s no gimmick: These are tried-and-true, actual cowboys. But the real reason this event has had such staying power is that it’s just so much fun to watch. These are performers who like to do it up for a crowd.”

The main event — the Bud Light Cowboy Downhill — features pro-rodeo competitors from the National Western Stock Show and begins tomorrow at 1 p.m. on the run appropriately dubbed Stampede. “If you’re watching from the base area, get there a little bit early to find a spot on the Bear River Terrace to get food, drinks and a great line of sight,” Kasten suggests. And don’t miss the 4-H animal petting zoo and learn-to-rope clinic.

For more information, go to steamboat.com.
Jan. 18-19, 2015