Inside Story : A Steamboat blog life

Riley doing snow research December 19, 2002

It all began here in Steamboat Springs, Colorado nearly nine years ago.

Our original Steamboat blog, The Straight Talk Report, arrived in the inbox of my brother, who at the time lived in Killington, Vermont. He subsequently forwarded the email to me back in Steamboat with the note, “You can write better than this.” So I sought out Steamboat’s webmaster and volunteered to assist him in his daily blogging duties.

And so a blogger was born. Not just any blogger. A blogger specifically focused on snow conditions. A blogger who’s soul purpose was to report the sensory sensations of the first runs of that day to anyone who would listen. I felt it was my duty to reach the skier chained to his or her desk in some urban jungle and make him or her so insane with jealousy, that they would book their trip to Steamboat right then and there.

Nine years and five other “real” jobs later, I am still Straight Talk Reporting. Today was my first day back on the beat. Here’s an excerpt from my report:

The Straight Talk thought for the day… “accumulation”

Typically I’d love to associate this word with a winter storm and more specifically a number followed by the word “feet.” However we are looking at blue skies and cold temperatures in the next few days - good for accumulating hours of snowmaking.

To read the rest of the report, click here.

Riley's tracks on 1/7/05

The assignment is a coveted position, one of the best ski town jobs anywhere.  I have attained a bit of celebrity from it. Someone even named their daughter after me. I have also been called some not so nice names (half-joking I am sure).

Although it may sound glamorous: going skiing and then write about it, the job has its challenges. After living here for years, it can be difficult to put myself in the seat of a visitor longing to come here.  It can also be rewarding, I’ve heard back from readers all over the world. I was particularly surprised at the response from one report I wrote that was entirely about the experience of riding the Bar-U-E lift. People who have been coming here for years wrote me about loving that lift and thanking me for the write up. Pretty cool!

This winter I will perform double-blogger-duty also contributing to our Moving Mountains “Ski Lodging Blog”. We blog about more than just the snow conditions. We cover all things Steamboat, features on our luxury vacation rental homes and catered ski chalets and of course everyone’s favorite: recipes from our Executive Chef, Lulu Martin!

As for the Straight Talk Report, you can sign up to receive an email daily, when it snows or when it snows more than 6″ on the Steamboat Ski Area’s website.

Whether you want to keep informed, entertained or need a reason to convince your friends and family to come to Steamboat this winter, we hope reading the Straight Talk Report and  our Steamboat Ski Lodging Blog will let you live vicariously through our staff before you come here to live the dream yourself.

See you on the slopes!

Riley