SAM Magazine-Steamboat Springs, Colo., May 3, 2007-As part of a massive makeover worth approximately $40 million, Colorado's Steamboat Resort will embark on $16 million worth of projects this summer, a record investment for the resort.

Highlighting the investment will be the new Christie Peak Express detachable six-pack chairlift, Headwall slope re-grade, significant snowmaking improvements, and enhancements to the Meadows parking facility. "These changes mark the launch of nearly $40 million in vast and comprehensive improvements to the entire Steamboat vacation experience and will be the first step in significantly advancing the resort's competitive position over the next decade," said Steamboat president Chris Diamond.

The new Christie Peak Express is a Leitner-Poma of America high-speed, six-passenger chairlift that will replace three lifts (Preview, Headwall and Christie II). The chair will have a length of roughly 4,700 feet and a capacity to move 3,200 people per hour and will cut the ride time to the summit of Christie Peak from 15 to 4.8 minutes. Steamboat will offset its electricity consumption through the purchase of wind energy credits, similar to the arrangement for the Burgess Creek and solar/wind-powered Sunshine Express lifts.

In its beginner area, Steamboat will upgrade and lengthen five conveyor lifts. A new Preview triple chair, built from the former Southface lift, will be realigned to conform to the regrading of the beginner terrain and extend further up Headwall.

The resort will also regrade the Headwall area, transforming an amalgamation of multiple fall lines and cross traffic into three distinct trails with grades between 9 percent to 21 percent. The earthwork will significantly reduce water consumption for snowmaking and allow crews to focus snowmaking energies in other high priority areas. The snowmaking system itself will undergo more than $1 million in improvements, including installation of concrete-lined pipe with a rated life of 50 years, the addition of low-e guns, and pump house upgrades.