Ajax Cup 2014

The Ajax Cup, in it's 5th year is a perfect combination.  Part ski race, part fundraising event and a kick a$$ party all in support of the Aspen Valley Ski and Snowboard Club (AVSC).  Founded in 1937, AVSC's mission is to make sure that all youth in the greater Roaring Fork Valley have a chance to develop as athletes and as people through winter sports.  Through the generosity of AVSC's sponsors and  it's membershipthe club makes sure that any child in the RFV who wants to participate in skiing and snowboarding...gets that opportunity.  Yes AVSC has turned out many Olympic and World Cup performers...but AVSC also makes it possible for EVERY kid to in the Valley participate in Winter Sports.

Click 4 Pix:  AJAX CUP 2014

Ajax Cup has become a place where all the ex-ski racers come to "rip it one more time".  Every year the racing at Ajax Cup gets faster and more competitive and in some cases...the speed suits get a little tighter.   Sure, it's all in good fun...but many of these folks want to win really, really badly.

This year's competition came down to the a dream finals pitting returning champions against each other. 2013 champs,  TEAM GORSUCH vs 2-Time champs TEAM GANZI.   The good natured trash talking at the starting hut was almost as fast and furious as the racing.  It all came down to the final paring...where Olympic and World Cup racer Alice McKennis nosed out former World Cupper and Olympian Jake Zamansky by fractions of a second.  Team Gorsuch prevailed again and retain bragging rights for another year.

It's estimated that Ajax Cup raised over $400,000 for AVSC.  Once again, race co-chairs and Aspen legends Chris Davenport and Casey Puckett designed a super-fast, challenging course on the Little Nell run at Aspen Mountain. Once the racing was completed...the party began.  Event Co-chairs Jackie and John Bucksbaum and Pam Alexander created a hall-of-fame social event.  AVSC President Marc Ganzi who is  perhaps the world's most competitive human ( and we say that with respect) led a paddle raise and live auction that helped take the fund-raising to the next level.  

Ajax Cup 2014 solidified it's position as one of the best and most fun events in Aspen.  Cheers to the racers and all the attendees and especially to all the kids of AVSC.

Click 4 pix:  AJAX CUP 2014 

AVSC's Ajax Cup 2012: Speed, Style & Philanthropy

The Aspen Valley Ski  & Snowboard Club (AVSC) hosted the 3rd annual Ajax Cup Ski Race and Apres' Ski Party yesterday in Aspen.   Ajax Cup has already become a signature event in Aspen and probably the best apres ski party of all time.   The Ajax Cup is the most important fund-raising event of the year for AVSC. It's a one-of-a-kind ski race down Aspen Mountain featuring  famous ski athletes, celebrities and some of the most competitive racing you'll find outside the FIS.  A record 14 teams were vying for the Ajax Cup this year which raised over $300,000 for AVSC.  AVSC reaches 2,200 kids throughout the Roaring Fork Valley.  99% of the participants in AVSC's programs pay a subsidized fee and many are on full scholarship.  The skills learned...and bonds formed by AVSC's programming last a life-time for the children. AVSC's core values of COMMITMENT, TEAMWORK and INTEGRITY are evident in everything AVSC does, including Ajax Cup.

Click 4 Pix:

AJAX CUP - On Mountain (part 1)

AJAX CUP - Speed & Style (part 2)

For the second year in a row, The Ajax Cup was hosted by Antonio Banderas.  Antonio has proven that he can ski and that he can party with the best of them.  At the top of the race course, prior to his first run, Antonio could be heard shouting..."Puss in Ski Boots" in homage to one of his popular movie roles.  Antonio along with event Co-Chairs Katy Frisch, Marc Ganzi and Jackie & John Bucksbaum pulled out all the stops for this year's Ajax Cup.

As well documented on the pages of AspenSpin...athletes in Aspen are extremely competitive.  There really is no "recreational" division in Aspen.  Everybody's a pro...and as Ajax Cup grows in popularity and status...the race for "bragging rights" is pretty intense.   With ski pros like Chris Davenport, Casey Puckett, Jake Zamansky, Wendy Fisher, Kristina Koznick, Kim Reichhelm and Wiley Maple leading the charge...the racing got very serious ...very quickly.  Good natured accusations of "sand bagging" during the time trials and team stacking were flying all over Aspen Mountain

Team Ganzi. Repeat Champs. Ajax Cup. click 4 pix.You might think that a celebrity ski race might be all fun and games...and it is...but it's became very clear that winning the ski race, taking home the Ajax Cup trophy and the status that goes with winning was very important to everyone involved. 

After a full day of racing it game down to a super-competitive final heat between returning champs, Team Ganzi led by pro Jake Zamansky...and Team Potamkin fronted by pro Kristina Koznick.   After 9 head-to-head races Team Ganzi was ahead by one point.  The Ganzi squad was stacked with big strong guys like Garrett Fisher, Grant Ganzi and Jeremy Oates while the Potamkin team was mostly teen-aged ladies.   It came down to Zamansky vs. Koznick for all the marbles.  In the final race...Koz nipped Jake by a 700th of a second to tie the  overall score. After a judges delay...which seemed like a life-time...Team Potamkin erupted in joy as they appeared to have won the competition based on a series of complex tie breakers.  Celebration ensued.  An "un-official" announcement was made crowning team Potamkin the 2012 Ajax Cup Champs.  But wait...upon closer inspection of the rules...and the application of the Pythagorean theory...it turned out that Team Ganzi had actually prevailed...by one 1000th of a second. 

The ladies of Team Potamkin were stunned.  Team Ganzi celebrated wildly..as the official word came down from the judges... TEAM GANZI...repeat champs.

LET THE PARTY BEGIN.  

Many thanks to AVSC and AJAX CUP event sponsors; GORSUCH, KJUS, St. REGIS, CARIBOU CLUB, ROWLAND + BROUGHTON and EKS Events. 

Click 4 Pix: 

AJAX CUP -  On Mountain (part 1)

AJAX CUP - Speed & Style (part 2)

Event host Antonio Banderas and Pro Skier Kim Reichhelm. click 4 pix.

Team Potamkin...for a minute they were champs..but hey had to settle for 2nd. click 4 pix.Jeff Gorsuch and Antonio Banderas were pumped to be stoked for Ajax Cup. Click for pix.

The BIG fun started early at the Apres Party. Click for more siiiiiiiick pix. Everybody was chillin' and thrillin' at the 3rd Anuual Ajax Cup. Click for pix.

Christmas in Aspen.

Merry Christmas from Aspen, Colorado.The Christmas rush is on.  Aspen is going full throttle into the Holidays.  Everyone is here. 

The mood is festive, the sky is blue and the slopes are hard packed.  We haven't had any real snow to speak of in a while.  There has only been one 6 inch day so far this year and it's getting frustrating for those of us who thrive on POW.

Who doesn't like to speed ski  straight down a steep, icy-hard Aspen Mountain going waaaaaaaaaaaay too fast---- just hoping to stay upright.  Turn?? Naaaah, we've been doing figure 11's for weeks now.  Avoiding those tourists texting in the middle of Spar Gulch or the slow skiing snow snakes (led by a red-jacket) going sideways across the fall line has become a necessity.

The Christmas Holidays are PRIME TIME in ASPEN (click 4 pix). 

Hopefully you saw the Front Page of the Aspen Daily News and the SKI BUM PROFILE.  It's a great piece...thanks to Carolyn Sackerisian and Chris Council for making me look good.

Coming Up in Aspen.

Trombone Shorty at THE WHEELER     Tue 12/27

Dennis Basso FreeStyle for AAM          Wed. 12/28

AVSC AJAX CUP Celebrity Ski Race       Friday 12/30

NEW YEARS EVE (it will be sick)

* Snow Leopard Party, Beautiful People Partying (CALL 4 Tickets) 970 390-3131

* LOCAL's NYE,  (David Bromberg, Fireworks and open bar at The Wheeler $50)  

* Caribou Club   (Call for Reservations)  970-925-2929

The Ajax Cup

The first annual Ajax Cup ski race took place today in Aspen, Colorado.  Pro's, am's, adaptive athletes, AVSC racers , Mom's and more buckled up their boots, donned their speed suits and did figure 11's down Little Nell in Aspen.   The Ajax Cup festivities were for the benefit of AVSC.

For more Photos. Click AJAX CUP  (or any of the pix below)