The Supreme Court agrees... Aspen GSW is Legit.

Detroit Muscle: This Michigan Couple will be testifying before the U.S. Supreme Court to support same-sex marriage.It was breaking news last Friday when the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to take on the issue of Gay Marriage.  The highest court in the land will determine if same-sex couples have a constitutional right to marry.

Click 4 Pix.  ASPEN GSW 2015

Here in Aspen, where almost everything is legal...or at least tolerated, Aspen Out hosted the 38th annual Gay Ski Week, Aspen (GSW).  Aspen has been supporting sexual freedom for a lot longer than 38 years, but GSW began here in 1976. Aspen's GSW is the first, and I believe still the largest and clearly the best of all the gay ski weeks.   Aspen is located in Pitkin County generally considered the most liberal county in Colorado and arguably the most liberal county between New York and California...so it's a natural fit.  4000+  boyz (and a few girlz) come to Aspen every January..to let their collective hair down and party with complete freedom and pride.

This year's GSW appeared to be especially fun.  Tons of well-dressed, well groomed (except fot the "lumber-sexuals"...google it) well heeled dudes were all over town.  Friendship dinners, shopping sprees, art openings, EDM dance parties and more.

Everybody loves a parade.AspenSpin covered some of the GSW events to snap some sick pix. As always the Downhill Costume Competition on Aspen Mountain's  Little Nell ski run on was a highlight.   The culmination of GSW was "GayWatch"...the pool party at the Aspen Recreation Center (ARC).   600 guys in speedos...and not one back hair in the joint.   AspenSpin was blown away (no pun intended) by the scene we encountered at the ARC.  The photos will give you some idea.  In public,  it was all good clean fun.  In private...who knows...legend has it that the GSW crew are dogs, just like straight men, and they are known to rutt like animals.

An observation, its refreshing when the GSW guests are so much nicer, friendlier and more respectful than the guests Aspen attracts during the holiday season.  Some of the guys ski and ride.   Lots of them party very hard and most of them spend, spend , spend.   So everybody in town is happy.

Next is X Games abd hopfully some freshies.  

Click 4 pix.  ASPEN GSW 2015.  Like'em, tag'em, and share'em

Miss Richfield 1981 greeted the Pitkin County Sheriff, Joe DiSalvo.

The Aspen Club was pumped to be stoked."GayWatch...the pool party at the Aspen Recreation Center.

Aspen Gay Ski Week : The Fabulous

37th Annual Gay Ski Week in Aspen.The 37th annual Aspen Gay Ski Week (GSW) took place last week.  As always, the boys just wanna have fun...and they did.  Being a witness to GSW every year  reminds me that Aspen is one of the most liberal, tolerant places in America.

I stand behind my previous statement that GSW is the hardest partying week of the season in Aspen.   Live and let live...bro.  Welcome to Aspen.  Freedom is what it's all about.

AspenSpin did not participate in Aspen Gay Ski Week, but we did observe.

Click 4 Pix.  The Fabulous

DADDY DAY CARE on the SLOPES.  

So two gay Dads and their cute 8 year old  daughter were gearing up for a day on the slopes.  The non-traditional family unit was renting skis at one of Aspen's finest ski shops.  The cute little girl wore cute little prescription glasses.  Each of her dads was decked out in fancy black ski outfits by RLX (one had white pants). Both dads were sporting very cool designer shades.  The ski tuner that was setting up their gear thoughtfully suggested that little Madison should have goggles to protect her eyes.  It was a bright beautiful Colorado bluebird day.  The one dad said..."of course...lets get her some cute goggles". "Do you have some white one's to match Maddie's jacket?" he added.  The other dad was chafing at the bit. "Don't you have any rental goggles?" he was annoyed.  "This will be a one-time use...how much are they?"   The clerk was polite and explained that they didn't rent goggles.  "Some stores do" he offered.   The mad dad whined "well how much are they?" he demanded to know.   The other dad only cared if they looked cool.  The daughter picked out the top end Oakley's.  "Those are cute" said Daddy #1.  "Hold on" said Daddy #2..."don't you have some from last year or something?".  The clerk...who did a great job pulled some goggles out of the bargain bin...$59.  The fashion dad was not happy.  The finance dad was Ok with it.  

The irony for me was that I've seen this same scenario play out countless times with a Mom and a Dad. Watching two guys debate about household finances vs fashion accessories, for some reason...it was fascinating to me.   I guess I gotta watch Modern Family.

THE PRINCESS.  

I was walking my dog.  3 guys approached and asked to pet her.  "She's beautiful" cooed the man in the pink puffy jacket.  "She's adorable" said the dude flossing a Burberry wool & cashmere pea coat.  The third fella was wearing a tiara and a boa.  "Who won the parade"? I asked.  "Whooooo cares" drooled the inebriated dude in the crown.  I pointed towards his head gear and asked "what did you win?"  He smiled hugely...like a Cheshire cat and said very slowly.  "Evvvvv-reee-thiiiing".

THE STEAM ROOM.

The Aspen Club sees a lot of action during GSW.  The usually quiet locker room is a bee hive of activity and conversations during the week.  Mirror time is difficult to come by.  I've never seen so many speedo tans and so little body hair in my life.  Not that I was taking notes and yes I've been to Europe.

Believe it or not, I work out.   After a super-intense, gluten free session of cross-fitting, hot yoga, uphill skiing, spinning and kettle belling...I usually like to hit the steam.  This time it was different...there were about 30 guys bouncing in and out of the "wet area"  I peered through the glass door of the steam room, it looked like a NYC subway car at rush hour, at Grand Central.   Guys were pressed up against the glass. It was SRO.  

The boys just wanna have fun.  And once again in Aspen...they did.

Click 4 pix:  The FABULOUS

Boobs, Brains and Boys.

Shout out to all my sisters. SAFETY FIRSTI've been wearing a pink ribbon on my ski helmet for a while now in support of Women with Breast Cancer.  The pink ribbon is the international symbol of breast cancer awareness.  Its my way of showing moral support for boobs everywhere.  I lost a close friend to breast cancer about 20 years ago...and the small cloth on the back of my brain bucket is just my way of saying "wut up"? to all my sisters.

BOOBS, BRAINS and BOYS (Click 4 Pix).

You'd be surprised how much commentary I hear about the ribbon.  From curious strangers to macho mountain men...i get a lot of questions about it.  On the mountain the pink ribbon makes me easy to spot...if you're looking for me...and easy to avoid if you're not. Save the Date: Komen Aspen will host SKI for the CURE on February 9th on Aspen Mountain.

I started wearing a helmet several years ago after striking a tree head first.  Earlier this season...my helmet with the pink ribbon probably saved me.  At a minimum I avoided a sled trip down Ajax and a $900 ride to the hospital.  There was a high-speed "incident". I caught a tip. I was wearing my clown shoes (rockered K2 Sidestashes). It was sort of like stubbing a toe. Travelling at approximately 40 M.P.H. (60 if u have an i phone app) I went airborn and got twisted backwards and slammed the back of my head on the ground...hard...very hard. It was a whiplash situation. Not cool.  I was dazed but OK. My glasses were broken, my pole was bent into an L shape and my neck and head hurt from the forceful slam.  It was a bad fall...maybe my worst ever.   The helmet probably saved me. I got off lucky...thanks to my helmet. Within an hour my glasses were fixed and the guys at Gosuch had heated up my pole and bent it back into shape.  Despite a pretty bad headache...I was fine.  That was until the next day..when my #2 molar cracked and fell out.  Ouch.  My helmet saved me.  Nothing a dental crown won't fix.

The Boyz were waxed and ready for the 36th edition of Aspen Gay Ski Week. click 4 pix.Soon after the fall I was contacted by OSBE HELMETS.  They are famous Italian motorcycle helmet manufacturers...HUGE in Europe.  The Osbe guy sent me a message... "you need a new helmet".  I already felt guilty because OSBE sent me a pretty sweet helmet last year that I rarely used. I pinged back, "Not really".  The guy insisted...told me to pick one out on-line.  I flipped through the web site and eye-balled a sick, slick, pink euro-styled topper with a power ranger feel to it.  I sent the guy the model number...and 3 days later...there it was on my doorstep...a pink helmet.  If you want to SAVE 10% on an Osbe go to OBSE USA and use the promo code ASPENSPIN (all caps).

Friday,  I broke the pink bad boy out & wore it to shred on a beautiful Colorado bluebird day.  It happened to be the annual day Aspen Gay Ski Week Parade on Aspen Mountain. 2500 gay guys liked my lid. I got a lot of positive commentary on it.  The ladies especially liked it.  Safe and stylish...all in one.  pink package. A female ski friend said "it takes balls to wear a pink helmet".  Thanks bro-girl.

Saturday was "SAFETY DAY" on Ajax, sponsored by the National Ski Areas Association the and National Ski Patrol. It's part of the annualon mountain NATIONAL SAFETY WEEK : Jan 19-27.  Hot dogs, stickers, avalanche dogs...all to promote safety and especially helmet use.

I didn't need to be convinced.  I've learned 3 lessons recently.

1) Protect the head.  Wear a helmet.  Safety first.

2) Everyone loves Boobs.  Men, Women, babies...so support Breast Cancer Awareness.

3) Boys will be Boys. Aspen GSW confirmed that it's probably the hardest partying, highest spending, fastest living week of the season.   Aspen thanks GSW, see you next year.

The cold snap broke and it warmed up to 30 but we're all still praying for POW here in Aspen. The Aussies and the Brazillians are helping pump up our economy. Aspen GSW was back in style for the 36th year.  As always the guys treated themselves royally in aspen.  Next week is X Games...so we'll be going HUGE again.  

In Aspen, Colorado the action never stops....and thats why we love it.

BOOBS, BRAINS and BOYS (click 4 pix)

Jane the Avalanche Dog was showing off her training at Safety Day on Ajax. Click 4 Pix.

Free Hot Dogs for Safety Day on Aspen Mountain. The Ski Patrol in Aspen is fantastic. Click 4 Pix.

The festive ski parade in Aspen for Gay Ski Week. Click for pix.