Breathe Deep in Aspen.

Skiing with Lasse Kjus, Hamilton Sports and Kjus USA.Hellz yeah...I know how lucky I am to live in Aspen. Skiing every day...partying every night...you can't make that sh*t up.

Today was the best of times and the worst of times. On the mountain it snowed a few inches...but the flakes were fat...and phat. Today it actually snowed.  Last year it kept misting all the time.  It felt good to feel the flakes on my Movemberless face. I got to run a few laps with Lasse Kjus, World Champ, Olympic Champ, World Cup Champ along with a group from Bill Miller's Hamilton Sports and Kjus North Amrerica. so that was sick.  See a few pix.  Laps with Lasse.

My view of the "work session" on snow poloToday was also the day that Aspen's City Council had their "work session" about snow polo.  The deck was stacked against me...but history and logic were on my side.   I was sticking up for Wagner Park... the crown jewel and most accessible open space in the center of Aspen.  You can read my previous rant here SAVE WAGNER PARK.  Or the articles in the Aspen Daily News:  SNOW POLO 1 :: SNOW POLO 2.

So it shaped up like this.  Andy Party vs. The City of Aspen, a billionaire, Aspen Ski Co.and the entire polo world.  My odds were decent.  My goal was to have the Snow Polo event relocated to a less impactful space 1 mile West of town.  It was clear the new Czar of Snow Polo, Marc Ganzi was willing to do just about anything to get this event produced in Wagner Park.  He hired the ski co. to make and/or truck snow into the park in order to protect the turf.  As a result of the snow polo debacle in 2009 that severly damaged the park, the Aspen Parks Dept. had devised a set of "strict criteria" in an effort to disuade Winter events in Wagner Park.   Yada yada yada...the "strict criteria" was altered substantially to accommodate snow polo 2013.  Snow polo will be allowed to blow snow in the park using snow guns between 9am-3pm and they will be granted a noise variance.  Boom. The billionaire wins.  

They will have to produce a compacted snow base of 6"-8".  A far cry from the 18" previously stipulated.  Who pays for the water?  The good people of Aspen.  Steve Barwick provided and estimate for the cost of the water to make all that snow.  "Minimal" is what our all-knowing City Manager came up with.  Nice answer.  How many gallons is minimal?   Where was parks poobah Jeff Woods during all this brew ha?  He's been in meetings for 4 weeks.  Nice.

 Wagner Park is slated for a $1.25 million "re-do" after Food & Wine so they figure its a good time to "experiment" with more high impact events in the park. The right time to "try it out".   X Games concerts will have a  much higher impact on the park than snow polo according to the parks dept.  Like that somehow makes it O.K.?   Rio Grande Park has been under construction for 3 years.  None of this stuff seems reasonable to me.  Some of the rhetoric just doesn't add up.

So I stuck my neck out in defense of the park.  I layed it out there.  I made a compelling argument, that was considered and then disregarded.  I felt the adrenaline flowing, because I truly believed a line had been crossed.  I believe in transparency.  This deal slipped thorugh the cracks.  I was just trying to keep our city officials honest...which they aren't.  Somehow, behind closed doors it went from...no Winter events in Wagner Park... to... it's OK with an 18" snow base required... to... we support snow polo with a 6-8" base and snow guns blasting.  Sure, I realize that snow polo in the park is a 1% problem.  There are bigger fish to fry out there.  

I truly hope that Snow Polo in Aspen becomes the thing that Marc Ganzi envisions as a "world class event" that provides a "unique public benefit".  He promised to bring to Aspen the "best horse Vet and 3 of the top ten polo players in the World and the current #1".  Ganzi wants to "use sport as a platform to promote social welfare and charity".  Whaaaat?   Ganzi also admitted that his wife "loves her horses as much as she loves her children".

I was in there mixing it up. Keeping it real.  It felt good.  Today was a siiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiick POW day so that helped ease the pain.  If all I gotta do is b*tch about snow guns and dump trucks to get a foot and a half of natural snow (like today),  I'll do it.   Best POW DAY in 3 years.

Before they were famous.  During my research I was able to un-earth high school senior pictures of our Mayor, the 4 Council Members, The City Manager and the Manager of the Parks Dept.   See if you can figure out who's who.

 

The Way of the Shred.

Aspen is a small town with a BIG heart.  Last weekend's early opening was fantastic.  This Saturday's official kick off to the season was the real deal.  The snow base on Aspen Mountain is equivalent to mid-February last year.  The Aspen Mountain ski patrol got busy and opened plenty of new terrain including Bell Mountain and The Glades.  Bro-brahs were straight-lining the Ridge of Bell without fear.  Coverage was good.  The best part...no one was around.  Apparently the opening at  Snowmass drew big crowds.  But Ajax had the goods...and those goods got got.

Click 4 pix: THE WAY of the SHRED

AspenSpin...known for skiing everyday and partying every night managed to squeeze in a couple social events too.  

Muralist, Kate Howe unveiled her latest mixed media creation at Aspen Highlands.  Her beautiful work entitled Almost Time to Ski now permanently adorns the wall of Aspen Highlands locker room.  She's already working on her next piece at Cloud 9 Restaurant on the mountain at Aspen Highlands.  Kate's art along with her expert ski pro-ing, massage and yoga keeps her plenty busy.  Commission her now.

Aspen's native son and U.S. Ski Team member and Olympic hopeful ski racer, Wiley Maple threw himself a fundraiser at Belly Up. Family, freinds, plenty of silent auction items and a screening of Winter, the newest ski porn from The Ski Channel were on the docket.  Unfortunately, Wiley got a bit of bad news yesterday about his troublesome knee.  The Orthopedic Doc's have shut him down for the season.  Heel up soon Wiley.

So it was a great weekend in Aspen.  A super kick-off to hopefully a POW filled season.  We'll see you out on the mountain.

Click for pix.  THE WAY of the SHRED.

1000 days of Kjus

Since becoming a full-time ski bum in 2003 AspenSpin has come a long way.  Sometime in early December I will achieve my 1000th ski day since escaping the real world.  For the past 10 years I have toiled diligently on the slopes of Aspen/Snowmass.  I've never been the most talented skier on the mountain, or the most athletic, or the most stylish but I have always chased the stoke 100%. Blogging came later. 

A.Part.y sporting Blue KJUS in 13/14As I continued to hone my skills on the slopes and on the keyboard, I set out to allign myself with products, services and brands that I truly believed in.  

KJUS ski wear has been supportive of AspenSpin almost from the start. Kjus has been a loyal and generous partner over the years.   KJUS is a Swiss company that is named after Norwegian ski racer Lasse Kjus.  Lasse Kjus is one of the most decorated skiers of all-time, winning Olympic Gold, 2 World Championships and 2 overall World Cups.  I first connected with KJUS during the early days of twitter. The first tweet was something like this;  "hey @kjus I dig your gear. but not sure I have a euro-body"   The response came back;  "thanks @aspenspin everybody looks good in Kjus."   Kjus has been outfitting Aspen Spin ever since.   

KJUS strives to produce the best ski wear in the world.  Uncompromising performance is their credo. Today Kjus stands for extraordinary design, outstanding quality and maximum performance.  The gear is highly technical, super light weight and aesthetically innovative.   Whether it's a beautiful Colorado bluebird day or the siiiickest, windiest, deepest POW day...my Kjus garb keeps me protected from the elements and looking very stylie.  Besides standing out stylistically, my Kjus gear considers all the details.  It starts with the leading edge weather proof fabrics and the fashion forward silhouettes,  but for me it's the little things that make Kjus the best and make a HUGE difference.  The freedom of movement is better than any other ski wear I've ever tried. The materials are awesome.  The pockets are functional and in the right places, the zippers are easy to use...and never get stuck or jammed, the hood easily fits over my helmet and can be adjusted with one hand.  I can feel the quality and attention to detail every time I suit up in KJUS.

Lasse Kjus and Bode Miller with their World Championship Globes. Kjus: Uncompromising performance.So as ski season 2013/14 kicks off and I approach my 1000th day as a ski bum, I give HUGE thanks to KJUS for keeping me warm, dry and looking like a billion dollars.   Didi Serena, CEO of KJUS is doing it right.  Their pro team includes 3 of the greatest ski racers of all-time; Lasse Kjus, Bode Miller and Didier Cuche.   I strive to be as loyal to them as they have been to me.   

I still don't have a euro-body....but I do look good in KJUS.  Special thanks go out to my contact at Kjus North America...Brooke Mackenzie...she's the best.   Kjus is available at the finest ski stores worldwide.   In Aspen, Kjus can be found at Gorsuch, Hamilton Sports and Aspen Sports.

Take it from me...the ski bum / blogger with almost 1000 ski days under his belt..  KJUS is the best.

Click here to learn more about KJUS ski wear, golf wear and outdoor wear.

Aspen Vert. Laboratory

Ski season 2013/14 got off to a tasty and early start on Aspen Mountain today.  Ajax was originally slated to open on Thanksgiving, but thanks to Mother Nature we all got to go out and get some almost 2 weeks early.   It's the best early season snow we've had in Aspen in recent memory.  Today was a full 10 fold improvement over opening day last year.  

Click 4 pix:  Aspen Vert. Laboratory

4 inches of sweet,sweet, POW greeted us this morning. The Stoke was high at the Gondola, as the line started forming at about 7.30 a.m. The crowd built into a pack of howling Aspen Powder Hounds. The lifts began spinning early at about 8.45.  Kudo's must be given to the Aspen Skiing Company and the mountain operations staff for getting Aspen Mountain ready for action...and then actually opening it 12 days before the scheduled opening.

AspenSpin is going on record:  "it was the best 4" day of all time".   And guess what?  It's dumping like a MO-FO right now.  So despite some tight hammy's and worked quads...we'll all be back out there tomorrow. Ripping top to bottom laps, getting the ski legs back, flossing the new gear.  3,267 vertical feet......

Click 4 Pix:  ASPEN VERT. LABORATORY

Save Wagner Park

FULL DISCLAIMER:   I live near Wagner Park in the center of Aspen.  I love Wagner Park.  My dog and I have played ball in Wagner Park almost every day for 11 years.  I believe that open spaces should be cherished and protected.   I want to save Wagner Park.

I have lost complete confidence in our elected officials and the City of Aspen to make well informed and reasonable decisions, especially concerning Wagner Park. They always seem to sell out to the highest bidder.  My Mom & Dad taught me to stick-up for myself, but warned me not to be a complainer.  Every once in a while those two traits come to loggerheads.   I don't want to sound like a complainer....but here's my take.

Polo Models...heeyyyy.SNOW POLO.  What the f*#k is Snow Polo?   It's a made up sport. In Aspen, it's a bunch of marketers trying to draw the seemingly upscale polo crowd to town in December (not exactly off season) .  I've attended  the snow polo matches several times... in Wagner Park, Rio Grande Park and Marolt Open Space.  Does Aspen really benefit from Snow Polo in the center of town?  What does Snow Polo bring to Aspen?  The crowd that attends breaks down as follows, A few rich older guys who are passionate about their expensive hobby.  Two Ralph Lauren male models...you know the guys...Nacho and Nick.  A few super hot chicks.   The rest is a  pack of freeloaders and hangers on who can drink almost anybody under the table...especially at a posh sponsored bar. A couple of years ago you may recall the White House wedding crashers were in town for Snow Polo and left a trail of unpaid bills behind them.

Wagner Park has never recovered from the last Snow Polo event held there in 2009. The turf was decimated...and no one disputes that.  When there was a lot of snow around here, before climate change, my dog and I found frozen horse turds in Rio Grande Park for months.   Hey...I'm not putting down Snow Polo...it works great at Marolt Open Space...except for one problem.   Everyone was too drunk to drive home...oh yeah,  and one of the horses had to be put down.  

PARKING STRUCTURE.  There has been a lot of talk  on & off about digging a parking structure under Wagner Park.   I will lay down in front of the bulldozers before that happens.  We already have a parking sturcture that nobody uses.  It's "off the beaten track"...fully...wait for it... 2 blocks from the center of town.  You want a parking structure?   Go to Vail.  And if you're a tea partier...go to Vail too.

Riots; Hopefully not in Aspen.X GAMES CONCERTS.  Have you been to X Games?  I have.  It's not exactly a tame crowd.  The town is packed, in fact its over packed.  One motel room easily sleeps 8 to 10 extreme sports fans.  A condo secured on VRBO can sleep 40-50 party mongers.  Lots of kids sleep in their vans...or just pass out face down in a pool of their own vomit. Yeah, I've been to X Games.   I love music.  I especially love outdoor concerts.  But a plan that calls for 6 foot chain link fences, 8 days of road closures,  huge spot lights and 50 extra security guards seems a bit extreme.

 Sure Disney...throw a show.  Bring in the Beatles.

Remember the last Winter concerts we had in Wagner Park in 2006 ?  it was a near riot.  The band was pelted off the stage with ice balls thrown in a drunken fury by many of our "guests".  So many people got wasted, that it looked like a battle field.  Oh yeah... the weather cooperated by giving us a sleet storm the night of the show.

We did get one concession from ESPN  this time around...a 10 x 10 detox tent.  The line for that will be staggering. I've heard it's sold out.

FOOD & WINE:  Wagner Park closes down for 3+  months in preparation for this bacchanal.  The streets are closed for 2 weeks.  Sure, its a good time...I know.   Many Aspenites feel F & W is a "great event" for the town.  Maybe it is?  I won't argue against that.  Is it good for the park??   Do we really need to "sell out" the park for more than 3 plus months for 2 days of F & W.  You would think there could be some sort of a compromise reached and F & W could be facilitated on the cement...where it belongs.  Watching 70 year olds stumble home in a drunken stupor is not new for me.  It's just not a pretty sight in the light of day.

USA PRO CHALLENGE:  Hey, I like the bike race.  It's a good time. I'm even OK with subsidizing it within reason.  Do I think the entire town should be shut down for 2 days?  No I don't!!!  You sure wouldn't want to get sick...or have a baby...or plan to fly or drive in or out of Aspen on those days.  Sorry.... the road is closed.

I keep hearing about how USA Pro puts Aspen on the "international stage" and of the millions of dollars in p.r. value we get from the USA Pro Challenge.  This past Summer I missed the USA Pro Challenge. Ironically, on day 1, the HUGE first stage..."live" from Aspen, I happened to walk into the Trek Superstore in Solana Beach, California. It's the #1 Trek bicycle dealer in the USA.  They had a TV playing in the store...but it was not tuned into NBC Sports and the USA Pro Challenge.   I asked the clerk " hey, who won the first stage of the USA Pro?". He looked at me blank faced...he didn't even know the race was happening.   I think the bike race is very cool...but does the entire town need to be closed down...I think not.

Do I sound cynical?  Do I sound angry? F#*k it...those are two of my best qualities. 

Let's audit the T & E. ACRA.  I laughed out loud at the recent article in the Aspen Daily News about ACRA's marketing budget.  ACRA gets an extra $1.9 million over and above their operating budget each year. The "extra" money is earmarked for marketing and originates from the lodging tax that was increased to 1.5% in 2010.  According to the ADN, ACRA spent $350K on advertising and $210K on p.r. last year.  That leaves $1.34 million for travel and entertainment.

 Niiiiiiice!!!   Boondoggles for journalists? Trips to NYC and California and Australia and South America for staff?  Awesome!!!   What is ACRA's marketing campaign?  Do we even have a slogan or a tag line for Aspen??   Like... Virginia is for Lover's...that kind of thing.  ACRA describes their success in nebulous terms and with projected and formulaic calculations about the actual reach.  Conclusions like " lots of eyeballs", "targeted story angles" and we had a "very strong summer" would not cut it in the real world.  

Lower occupancy rates...albeit higher average room rates does not translate into success as far as I'm concerned.   Placement in USA Today...wow??? I know a lot of people in the Forbes 400...not one of them reads USA today.  You can get a free USA today at any Hampton Inn.  ACRA's website set a new record in August with 75 ,000 visits??? Are those unique visits or page views? Either way, is that even impressive???  Not in my world it isn't.  Do they even know who their customers are?  Has ACRA targeted legitimate potential customers?  They seem to be going for "broad" coverage.  Thats one of the dumbest things I've ever heard of, especially with today's targeted ads.  Do they even look at the data and analyse it?

As a former member of ACRA, it appears to me that ACRA is most interested in ACRA. They are desk protectors who often put their own selfish goals ahead of their members.  Every year they pat themselves on the back for a "successful"  marketing program that yields very few tangible results.   Yet Aspen City Council continues to nod  their heads and rubber stamp ACRA's marketing contract.   If they put that thing out for competitive bids...I'd be willing to bet that Aspen could get twice the marketing coverage for half the price.  Who wants to bet?

So that's it.  That's my take.  Soon, Aspen Mountain will be open and I can re-focus on skiing and other recreational activities instead of all the transparent political bullsh*t that has been part of everyday life here in Aspen for more than 50 years.   

Why do I care so much??  I'd be better off if I didn't.