STEAMBOAT VACATION GUIDE: History of Ski Town USA
Steamboat Springs Olympians
Carl Howelsen could never have imagined the impact he would have on this small northwest Colorado town. Steamboat is known simply as Ski Town USA ® because it has produced more winter Olympians than any other town in North America, after the 2006 Olympics, a record 56 and counting. Steamboat’s tradition dates back to the 1932 Olympics in Lake Placid, NY, at which the Valley’s first Olympian, John Steele, placed 15th in Nordic jumping. Nelson Carmichael became the first Steamboat Olympian to win an Olympic medal, a bronze in moguls the 1992 Games. During the 1998 Nagano Games, Steamboat Olympian Shannon Dunn became the first American woman to win a medal in snowboarding. Travis Mayer brought home the Silver Medal in 2002 for Freestyle Skiing. Steamboat’s 70-year tradition of generating more Olympic athletes to the US Ski Team has earned it the moniker Official Supplier to the US Ski Team. Full list of all Steamboat's Olympians - past and present.
