Todd Lodwick Named US Olympic Committee's 2009 SportsMan of the Year

World Champion and Olym­pic medal hopeful Todd Lodwick was named the United States Olympic Committee’s 2009 SportsMan of the Year.

The award considers all sports, summer and winter.

“It’s humbling to be recognized amongst my Olympic peers,” Lodwick said in a U.S. Ski Team news release. “I’m especially proud to receive this honor on behalf of my sport. So many people have supported us for so many years that it’s heartwarming to know that our sport and my accomplishments, and those of my teammates, are meaningful.”

Lodwick joins elite company in being named SportsMan of the Year. Previous winners include Michael Phelps, Lance Armstrong, Rulon Gardner, Pete Sampras and Carl Lewis.

Lodwick becomes the first Nordic combined skier to win SportsMan of the Year and the first U.S. Ski Team athlete to win the award since Jonny Moseley in 1998.

Skiing in Steamboat

The skiing in has been phenomenal with the recent snowfalls in Steamboat Springs. We still could use more snow but overall the mountain is in great shape. The groomers were awesome today! This winter we will be hosting ski days with the Olympians – Nelson Carmichael on Tuesday, Erin Simmons on Friday and Caroline Lalive on Sunday. The Master Guides will give tips and help you hone your skiing and boarding skills. Elk chili starts this weekend (December 20th) and we have planned a New Year’s Eve party at the Mountain Camp. Festivities start at 5pm with cocktails and heavy appetizers catered by Lawrence Jaconetta. The fireworks show starts at 5:30pm. Please, let Jackie or Heather know if you plan to join us celebrate the beginning of 2010 at the Marabou Mountain Camp 970.879.0507.

Master Guide, Todd Lodwick, ready for Olympic Trials

North Park Fishing Club

If you didn’t get a chance to fish North Park Fishing Club water’s this year you missed out! 2009 was a fantastic year. North Park is a million acre valley, surrounded by mountain ranges, where moose outnumber people! It is called, “Colorado’s quiet place”. Eons ago, North Park was a shallow seabed, which is why the soil is so productive and fertile. High alkali soils make our freestone river systems very productive. Tremendous hatches with unsurpassed solitude are what make the North Park Fishing Club so special! A great winter snow pack and unbelievable wet spring provided great water flows in all of our systems this year.

This summer, we hosted several Marabou Ranch trips but there are some of you that have not been to the North Park Fishing Club. Make 2010 the year - great quality fishing, elk sausage lunches along the shore and many great times are sure to be had!

Now that the fishing season is coming to an end we are gearing up for the ski season! The snow is flying already which is a great start to our snow pack. The Marabou Mountain Camp is going to be bustling with activity this winter. Elk or Marabou beef chili (depending on the elk hunting this season - so far it has been pretty tough) will be served and the fire will be warm. We plan to start cooking chili the third week in December. Please let us know if there is anything we can do at the Mountain Camp to make it more enjoyable for you and your family. We are really looking forward to a great year of skiing or riding on the mountain!

Pat Stefanek - Marabou River Keeper and Owner of North Park Fishing Club

Fishing at Marabou

The water temperatures have been dropping and the leaves are changing from green to various shades of yellow, along with these seasonal changes the fishing has been great at Marabou Ranch. Trout in the ponds are still eager to eat on the surface as well as the river fish sipping blue wing olives. Pearl Lake to the north is being drained for dam repairs causing the Elk River to fluctuate in flow and water clarity. With the draining of the lake a lot of aquatic invertebrates have been flushed into our river waiting to be devoured by the local inhabitants. We still have over a month of consistently good fishing at Marabou Ranch before we start to see our waters ice up and then we know it's time to retire our fishing gear until another season.

Will Morgan - Marabou Fly Fishing Master Guide

Fall in the air

Fall at Marabou Ranch has arrived! The ski area received its first drizzle of snow this morning. We will be skiing before we know it. Before the snow falls we are taking the opportunity to enjoy fall. Chad Bedell has been running weekly cattle drives to ensure the grass-fed cattle are well feed. The fishing is great right now. Owners and guests have been catching amazing rainbows, browns, brookies, cut-bows and cut-throats. We have been listening to the elk bugle from different areas on the ranch. Chad expects over 25 elk to winter at Marabou Ranch in the Elk Calving Area. The Sandhill Cranes have started their migration from Canada to Mexico and are stopping at Marabou Ranch along the way. They are filling the fields as they feed on grains.

Fall is guaranteed to take your breath away at Marabou Ranch!