Mavericks is where hearts beat a little louder, breathing gets a little harder and the world gets a lot brighter. Steamboat invites freeriders from around the world to experience Mavericks, one of premier superpipes on the continent. The resort has created a monster of a superpipe: 18-foot walls, 56 feet wide, 22-foot transitions, and 500 feet long!

Steamboat's terrain park, serviced exclusively by its own chairlift features terrain for all ability levels spread over 11.8 acres, an outdoor sound system, professional designed rails and jumps. Snowmaking installed specifically for this area allows Steamboat to open Mavericks sooner than most pipes in Colorado, attracting freeriders from near and far to ride the superpipe.

As part of its 2006 capital program, the resort purchased a state-of-the-art Zaugg 18-foot monster superpipe cutter. The Zaugg creates an elliptical shape, which makes for a smoother landing in the pipe and allows an individual to gain speed easier, resulting in more hits during the run. Maintaining the pipe now only takes a few passes with the unique machine.

Why the name Mavericks? In California, near Half Moon Bay, there is a legendary big-wave break by the same name where swells reach the height of three story buildings. Only the best surfers dare to ride the Mavericks, the liquid version. A maverick, by definition, is an independent individual. What better way to describe freeriders? Steamboat's Western Heritage, the culture of freeriding, and the fact that we've gone beyond the regulation size superpipe all indicate we found the perfect name. Steamboat's Mavericks was born from a wave of freeriding zeal swelling from the spirit of pioneering innovators.