2023 agenda

Welcome

The conference took a hiatus in 2021 and 2022 during the pandemic, so we’re excited to get back together this year.

This year’s conference is focused on diversity, equity and inclusion. We’ll talk with thought leaders about how minority groups are received in the outdoors and hear from experts in the field of environmental justice.

We’ll also hear from climate scientists about wildfires and drought, see simulations of violent thunderstorms at ultrahigh resolution, and learn how to communicate the urgency of climate change without the doom and gloom.

And as part of our commitment to sustainability, we’ll be offsetting all travel for attendees with carbon credits, and all agendas will be provided digitally this year.

We’re glad you’re here, and we hope you have a great time.

to the 33rd annual Steamboat Weather Summit.

Loryn Duke Communications director, Steamboat Resort

Maren Franciosi Communications manager, Steamboat Resort

Wi-Fi

Network: SGR-Conference Password: Fullsteamahead!

Sessions

All sessions will be held in the Peak View room at the Steamboat Grand. (See map on Page 22.)

Live shots

Live shots will be powered by LiveU instead of a satellite truck this year, providing us with more flexibility and variety in live shot locations. We will have two LiveU backpacks and two shooters for your live shot needs. Live shots are determined on a first-come, first-served basis, but we likely can accommodate last-minute requests.

Contact Loryn Duke at lduke@steamboat.com or 970-819-5676 to book live times.

Videographers

Two experienced cameramen are provided to shoot taped packages that can be sent back to your stations.

Contact Nicole Miller at nicole.miller85@gmail.com or 970-218-6723 to book a shooter.

Digital editing facilities

Digital editing will be available in the Spring Creek II meeting room at the Steamboat Grand from Tuesday through Thursday. Spring Creek II is just down the hall from the Peak View meeting room. (See map on Page 22.)

Contact Chad Maurer at chadmaurer@yahoo.com or 303-917-4335 to arrange edit times.

Meals

Breakfast on Thursday is at Thunderhead Lodge at the top of the Steamboat Gondola. (Skiing/riding is not necessary, but bring your ski pass.) Breakfast Saturday is in the Mountain View Foyer in the Steamboat Grand hotel. (Note that this is a location change from the Cabin restaurant.)

Lunch on Wednesday through Friday is in the Mountain View Foyer in the Steamboat Grand hotel.

Tuesday’s welcome reception happy hour includes heavy appetizers. Dinner is provided Wednesday through Friday.

In the Steamboat Grand hotel, the Cabin restaurant is open from 7:30-11 a.m. and from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. The Grand Market offers coffee and grab-and-go meals from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Transportation

A private shuttle will pick you up at the Grand and transport you to all dinners. On nights when a return shuttle is not provided, call 970-871-5499 when you’re ready to leave.

The Steamboat Grand shuttle runs from the hotel to downtown every 30 minutes from 4:15-10:15 p.m. Call 970871-5499 for downtown pickup. (Downtown pickup and dropoff locations are at Seventh and Ninth streets along Main Street.)

The free city bus runs every 15-30 minutes from Gondola Square Transit Center, across the street from the hotel, to downtown Steamboat from 6:17 a.m. to 12:17 a.m.

You can reach Steamboat Express taxi at 800-822-4844. Uber and Lyft also are available but are limited.

Skiing and riding

Daily lift access, First Tracks and night skiing (open Thursday-Sunday) are included on your lift ticket card.

Ice skating

Attendees and guests can go ice skating on Skeeter’s Rink in Steamboat Square. An ice skating rental voucher is included on your pass. Ice skating rentals can be picked up between the ice rink and snow surface near the stage. (Rental location is No. 22 on the map on page 25.)

Rentals

You’ll receive a voucher for rental or demo gear. Bring this to any Steamboat Sports location, including in the Steamboat Grand near the Peak View meeting room, the Sheraton hotel and Torian Plum Plaza near the base area, and Steamboat Square. (Rental locations are identified by red dots on the map on pages 24-25.)

Ski/snowboard storage

After you rent your gear, Steamboat Sports will send it to the Ski Corral storage area under the Timber & Torch patio in Steamboat Square. (Storage location is No. 18 on the map on page 24.)

Child care

For evening child care, we recommend contacting Steamboat Babysitting Co. at SteamboatBabysitting.com or 970-819-7644. Children are welcome at all dinners.

Guests

Guests are welcome to join all meals and activities. Sessions and package filming are closed to guests.

What’s new at Steamboat Resort?

We’re investing $200 million on an on-mountain and basearea transformation to improve the guest experience at Steamboat. Our base area has been upgraded into a multiuse, amenity-rich, easy-to-navigate plaza. On the mountain, we’ve added a new dedicated beginner learning area, a second out-of-base gondola and are working to increase our terrain by 650 acres to make Steamboat the second largest resort in Colorado.

Wild Blue Gondola

The new Wild Blue Gondola will be the longest gondola in North America and the fastest 10-person gondola in the country. With the lower leg now open, the state-of-the-art gondola will feed skiers/riders to the new Greenhorn Ranch learning center. The upper leg, set to open in winter 2023-24, will have a final destination at the top of Sunshine Peak. At a total length of 3.16 miles, the new gondola will increase the out-of-base capacity from 6,000 to 10,000 people per hour, getting skiers from bottom to top in 13 minutes.

Skeeter’s Rink

Skeeter’s Rink is open this winter in Steamboat Square.

Greenhorn Ranch learning center

Featuring a slope graded for beginners with a 0% to 15% angle and progressive Terrain-Based Learning, the area will be dedicated to beginner skiers and riders

Pioneer Ridge

Coming in winter 2023-24, we’ll add 650 additional acres of expert/advanced terrain.

Featured story ideas

Look for the light bulb icon in the schedule to see activities that tie to story ideas.

Snowmaking technology

Registration required.

Ski resorts assist Mother Nature by making snow, particularly in drought years. See the snowmaking guns in action and learn about the technology behind the process.

Lift mechanics in extreme weather

Registration required.

Head into the motor room of Storm Peak Express, talk to the mechanics who work on the 30-year-old lift and learn how they keep it operating in extreme weather.

Hot air ballooning and weather

Registration required. Weather dependent.

Hot air balloons fly at the whim of the winds, so their pilots have to be experts at predicting the weather. Learn how pilots navigate the skies and avoid thermals.

Bridgestone Winter Driving School

Registration required. The snow- and ice-covered courses at the local school are some of the world’s finest, and professional coaches guide students to drive confidently in challenging winter conditions.

Have an idea about another story you’d like to tell? Contact Nicole Miller at nicole.miller85@gmail.com or 970-218-6723 for help setting it up.

Kylie Bearse

Fox Denver

Chris Bianchi NBC Denver

Jim Cantore Weather Channel Atlanta

Max Golembo ABC News New York

Paul Goodloe Weather Channel Atlanta

Jennifer Carfagno Weather Channel Atlanta

Belen De Leon NBC Los Angeles

Greg Dutra ABC Chicago

Lisa Hidalgo

ABC Denver

Judson Jones New York Times Atlanta

Doug Kammerer

Bill Karins NBC News New York

Adam Krueger CW Houston

Maureen McCann

Spectrum News Orlando

Ryan Phillips NBC Miami

Matt Sitkowski Weather Channel Atlanta

Lauren Whitney CBS Denver

Reynolds Wolf Weather Channel Atlanta

Jennifer Warren CNN Atlanta

Simulations of Violent Thunderstorms at Ultra-High Resolution

Dr. Leigh Orf, University of Wisconsin scientist

Orf focuses on severe weather, including supercell thunderstorms, tornadoes and downbursts. His research is centered around the use of massively parallel supercomputers to simulate, visualize and analyze storms at unprecedented spatial and temporal scales. His high-resolution simulations have resulted in new findings in mesoscale meteorology, such as the discovery in simulated supercells of the streamwise vorticity current (now observed in the real atmosphere) as well as a physical mechanism behind the formation of above anvil cirrus plumes.

Troubled Waters: Urban Flooding and Vulnerable Communities

Dr. Shannon Van Zandt, Texas A&M University professor

Van Zandt focuses on the intersection of affordable housing with disaster impacts, resilience and recovery, with particular interest in how residential land-use patterns exacerbate or mitigate exposure to natural hazards, specifically flooding. She is an author of the 2014 book, “Planning for Community Resilience: A Handbook for Reducing Vulnerability to Disasters,” along with more than 45 other journal articles, book chapters and technical reports. She serves on the board of Texas Housers, an advocacy organization for low-income housing recovery after hurricanes.

Weather Extremes in a Warming Climate

Dr. Daniel Swain, climate scientist

Swain studies the dynamics and impacts of the Earth’s changing climate system. He’s especially interested in how climate change is affecting the character and causes of regional climate extremes, including the atmospheric processes responsible for droughts, floods and wildfires. His research embraces “climate complexity” by accounting for the nuanced spatial and temporal characteristics of our planet’s response to increasing greenhouse gas concentrations. His recent work seeks to understand the changing spatiotemporal character of precipitation, including the rising risk of droughts and “megafloods” in a warming climate.

Communicating the Urgency of Climate Change Without the Doom and Gloom

Dr. Katharine Hayhoe, The Nature Conservancy chief scientist

Hayhoe is an atmospheric scientist who studies climate change. She has served as lead author on multiple National Climate Assessments. She also hosts and produces the PBS Digital Series “Global Weirding” and serves on advisory committees for a broad range of organizations, including the Smithsonian Natural History Museum, the Earth Science Women’s Network and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Her research focuses on the impacts of climate change on human systems and the environment.

SPEAKERS

Making the outdoors welcoming to all (panel)

Rev. Quincy Shannon

Shannon, known as “Q,” is a Denver native who was ordained as a National Baptist Minister of the Gospel at New Hope Baptist Church in 2010. He currently serves as the youth and young adult pastor at New Hope as well as the dean of students at Denver School of Science and Technology Green Valley Ranch. Shannon is the co-founder of a Black ski club that is associated with the National Brotherhood of Skiers. And he started a company that offers trips to the mountains by providing access to different activities and eliminating barriers that have kept diverse groups from experiencing the beauty of the mountains. Shannon works to alter negative Black stereotypes through his activism.

Crystal Egli, DEI consultant

Egli is a co-founder of Inclusive Journeys, the company behind InclusiveGuide.com. She grew up in rural Vermont and has always been into outdoor adventures like fishing, water skiing and backpacking. In 2021, she was appointed to Colorado Gov. Jared Polis’ Inclusion in Travel Advisory Group. She is passionate about her work as a board member for the nonprofit Hunters of Colorado, and she takes pride in being a member of the Next 100 Coalition. Egli holds additional advisory positions on the Together Outdoors Coalition and for Artemis Sportswomen. She came up with the idea for the Inclusive Guide after feeling uncertain about her safety as a person of color hunting on public land.

Making the outdoors welcoming to all (panel)

Moderator: Hannah Wineman, Alterra Mountain Co. social responsibility specialist

Wineman is committed to serving and protecting people and the planet. Her role spans diversity, equity and inclusion; environmental sustainability; and philanthropy. Her DEI work focuses on internal employee experience and inclusion in addition to increased participation of new and diverse guests who are underrepresented in the ski industry. Ski Area Management Magazine recognized Wineman as “The Changemaker” in its “11 Under 30” awards. She earned her bachelor’s in sociology at the University of Colorado.

Existential Opportunities to Honor Environmental Justice

Dr. Mustafa Santiago Ali, National Wildlife Federation VP of conservation

and justice

Ali began working on social justice issues at 16 and later became a founding member of the EPA’s Office of Environmental Justice. He most recently served as senior advisor for environmental justice and community revitalization. He led the Interagency Working Group on Environmental Justice, which brought together 17 federal agencies and departments and various White House offices to strategically leverage resources to uplift vulnerable communities across the country. He has also worked internationally to secure environmental, health and economic justice.

SCHEDULE

Tuesday, Jan. 17

4pm Hotel check-in at Steamboat Grand

5-7pm Happy hour at Timber & Torch in Steamboat Square, across the street from the Steamboat Grand hotel. Steamboat Vice President of Mountain Operations Dave Hunter will discuss Steamboat Resort’s base area redevelopment project.

Arrival information

Unless otherwise noted on your emailed itinerary, all flights are into Yampa Valley Regional Airport (HDN), which is about a 30-minute drive from Steamboat Springs.

Ground transportation has been arranged through Storm Mountain Express, which has a kiosk in the arrivals area of the airport. Your shuttle confirmation number is noted on your emailed itinerary.

Lodging

All speakers and attendees are booked at the Steamboat Grand, site of the conference. Your lodging confirmation number is noted on your emailed itinerary.

Activities for early arrivals

• Sunday: Balloon Glow, Steamboat base area, 5-6pm

• Monday: Cowboy Downhill, Steamboat base area, 11am

• Tuesday: Guided mountain tour, Wild Blue Gondola base, 9:45am-noon, $20 (intermediate skiing/riding required)

7:45am First Tracks available. 7:45-10am

Hot air ballooning and weather package. Meet in hotel lobby for shuttle. Registration required, weather dependent.

9-10:30am Drop-in breakfast, third floor of Thunderhead Lodge at top of Steamboat Gondola. Skiing/riding NOT necessary. Bring your ski pass.

9:45am-noon

Snowmaking package filming. Meet at breakfast or base of Wild Blue Gondola. Registration required, intermediate skiing/riding required only if meeting at breakfast.

10-11:30am Ski with an Olympian. Meet Steamboat Olympians Mick Dierdorff and Caroline Lalive at breakfast on the mountain, and take a run or two together. Intermediate skiing/riding required. Noon-12:30pm Lunch, Mountain View Foyer

Thursday, Jan. 19 (continued)

12:30-1:30pm

Dr. Daniel Swain: Weather Extremes in a Warming Climate

1:30-1:45pm Interview filming, break

1:45-2:45pm Dr. Katharine Hayhoe: Communicating the Urgency of Climate Change Without the Doom and Gloom

2:45-3pm Interview filming

5:30-8:30pm Night skiing available

5:45-8:30pm

Sleigh-ride dinner at Haymaker.

Attendees with children meet in hotel lobby for shuttle. Dress warm, including snow boots, a hat and gloves. Return shuttle provided at 8:30pm.

6:15-9pm

Sleigh-ride dinner at Haymaker. Attendees without children meet in hotel lobby for shuttle. Dress warm, including snow boots, a hat and gloves. Return shuttle provided at 9pm.

All day Departures

Departure information

Unless otherwise noted on your emailed itinerary, all flights are out of Yampa Valley Regional Airport (HDN), which is about a 30-minute drive from Steamboat Springs.

Ground transportation has been arranged through Storm Mountain Express or Steamboat Express. Your shuttle confirmation number and pickup time is noted on your emailed itinerary. Thank you for attending the 33rd annual Steamboat Weather Summit. See you next year!

Steamboat Grand hotel (conference site)

Steamboat base area