Steamboat

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Jim Mader :
Die-hard skier
Jim Mader is the epitome of a die-hard skier. Powder
or hard-pack, he’s at the gondola almost every day. He
surmises that some people may have logged more days than
he has at the ski area, but he doubts there are many, other
than employees. His two daughters, Caterina and Jessie,
grew up with him on the mountain and went on to become
competitive freestyle skiers. He recalls a favorite powder
day, one of those unexpected treats, when the snow started
falling just before dawn, so the ski report didn’t reflect the
freshies that awaited him.
5:30 a.m. Time to call the ski report. One new? Or was
it 3 new in the last 24 hours? It didn’t matter, I was going
skiing, just like every other day.
7:30 a.m. I get to the glass. I am the only one here, and
it’s dumping. It should be really good up top.
8:15 a.m. A few more people show up and the doors open.
Mix Beauvais, now a local Realtor, was the first
marketing director at the Steamboat Ski Area. His
portfolio includes the iconic poster of the Steamboat barn,
with two horseback riders trudging through the snow in
the foreground, skis resting across their saddles.
In the early days, John Fetcher and I were always in a
money crisis. The only assets we had were John’s cows,
so we would drive to Denver in John’s cattle truck to see
the bankers. We had to tell the bank ahead of time so they
could clear the way for us to get the truck into their parking
lot. We’d mortgage the cows at one bank and pay off a loan
at another, with just enough cash from the transactions to
keep the company going.
Back then, I was not only the sales and marketing guy,
but also the comptroller.
I had an office in Denver as well as Steamboat. When
I traveled back and forth, I’d take the accounting records
with me in case I needed to work on the books. One day
when I was getting ready to return to Denver, I took the
records outside and put them on the back of the car. I
forgot something and went back into the old octagon
building. Without thinking, I jumped into the car and
backed right over the accounting records. Fortunately I
always carried them in a metal trunk and even though it
was smashed flat, nothing got ruined.
During the 1970 ski season, I got a call from Cal Beaver,
the sales rep for Braniff Airlines. He told me one of the best
sports guys in Dallas wanted to come to Steamboat, ski and
send some footage back to his station. So, I picked up Verne
Lundquist at Stapleton Airport in Denver and headed to
8:40 a.m. I get to the top of the gondola, put on my
skis and head to White Out. I look down Rudi’s, and it
seems like there’s more than an inch here. I pass Norther,
then through the trees to B.C. liftline. Wow! There is a lot
of snow.
8:45 a.m. I get to White Out, and I’m the only one
here. The snow is above my boots, almost to my knees.
Unbelievable! I am ecstatic.
One day among so many. Was that unexpected powder
day my favorite, or was it another line through the trees or
maybe every turn I made through the bumps? Maybe it was
skiing with my daughters on my back, when they were little,
or watching them do helis and back flips on Voo Doo.
To me, each day, every turn of every run I have made, is
my favorite memory of skiing. Thank you, Mount Werner,
for a lifetime of memories.
Mix Beauvais: In the early days
Steamboat, only to find we couldn’t see 10 feet in front of
the car in a blizzard on Rabbit Ears Pass. We made it.
The second day of Verne’s stay, he wanted to shoot on
the mountain. We started down Central Park (now Rudi’s
Run) to set up the shot, the camera guy and I coaching
Verne on where to stand. We had him move backward a
couple of times, and the last time, he stepped off the trail
and almost out of sight in the soft snow. This was Verne’s
introduction to Champagne Powder®.
Verne & Nancy Lundquist with Mix & Karen Beauvais
Some years later Verne and Nancy made Steamboat
their home. He is a great friend and continues to be a great
ambassador for Steamboat.
Courtesy Jim Mader
Courtesy Mix Beauvais