Paul Interviews Olympic Medalist Billy Kidd about Steamboat’s 50 Years [AUDIO, PHOTOS]

Steamboat Opens for 50th Season on November 21

When you ski at Steamboat, you walk past the statue of the legend himself, Billy Kidd. He became the first American to win an Olympic medal in alpine skiing in 1964, and has been Director of Skiing at Steamboat pretty much ever since. The posture of the statue you pass indicates that he just made a great turn, and he's about to make about a million more. When he talks, it is with reverence for the sport of skiing and the mountain in Steamboat Springs.

It's fitting that he talks this way. He's seen all the changes that have happened at his mountain since he started skiing it in the 1960's. He still skis it, and almost every day he hosts a free lesson. Anyone with a Steamboat lift ticket for the day can take part. You ski with him, take some pointers, hear some stories and walk away with his money back guarantee that he'll turn you into an Olympic champion.

The lesson is free. Billy 'the Kid', as you can hear in this interview, doesn't have to fake his love for skiing, people, humor or Steamboat.

Steamboat is moving into it's 50th season. Ski Town, USA has much to celebrate.

We've been celebrating it's location since the day the resort opened. The Champagne Powder™ for which Steamboat is famous is legit. I truly experienced it for the first time on President's Day of last year. Steamboat received 27 inches in less than a day, and the term 'bottomless' came into my vocabulary.

Tree skiing is a favorite of many Colorado locals, and Steamboat's aspen glades, because of it's lower relative base elevation than other Colorado resorts, are a major highlight of this mountain. It's more dangerous to make turns in the trees, but off the Sunshine peak, there are plenty of areas where even beginners can poke in and out of the trees along the sides of the runs. Check out the trail map here.

In our interview, Billy mentions how lucky we are to be in Colorado with all these incredible mountains to ski. We have many world class choices. They each have different terrain, aspects, and personalities. Steamboat is known for its legendary light and deep powder, terrain and layout that is totally fun and unique, family friendly everything, and the awesome attitude of the locals. Local hot springs, great restaurants on the mountain and in town help to round out the experience.