Ten years ago, Steamboat Springs' Howelsen Hill -- a small ski area in the city's downtown -- began a new tradition: ski jumping in the summertime. Instead of snow, the surface is covered with a material made of green plastic, but ski jumpers say the technique they use is the same as jumping on snow.
The area is one of the largest ski-jumping complexes in North America, and allows jumpers to practice year-round.
Norwegian immigrant Carl Howelsen first brought ski jumping -- on snow -- to the Northwest community 100 years ago, which led some called him the father of skiing in Colorado.
Todd Wilson is the director of ski jumping and Nordic combined at the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club. He spoke with Colorado Matters host Ryan Warner.
Watch a video of a skier at Howelsen Hill at a recent July 4th event.
