Aspen spelled Backwards. NEPSA 2012

Klaus Obermeyer kicks off ski season in Aspen with a HUGE yodel at the NEPSA Video Awards. click 4 pix.In Aspen, the NEPSA Video Awards is always the unofficial start to Winter.  NEPSA is the signal to fire up the Stoke for Snow.   NEPSA is a 5 minute video contest for "amateurs " with cash prizes and BIG bragging rights. 

Click 4 pix:  

Aspen Spelled Backwards

This year's 9 NEPSA entrants produced some incredible films.  "Erste Stuhl" or "First Chair", a film by Helga & Hans took home the top honors.  Geoff Stump and Klaus Obermeyer attempted to repeat as NEPSA champs but finished a close  2nd with "Before Aspen".  Third Place & Audience Favorite award went to The Circle of Corduroy who created a siiiiiiiiiiiiiiiick time lapse study of Aspen Mountain...mostly shot from a snowcat while grooming the mountain.   Honorable mention must  have gone to the film crew from Jackson Hole who took gnarly to a new extreme with "Skid Luxury".  Their film included some of most gnarly cliff jumping and ski flying we've seen. 

Dav & Trav hosted again and they played it straight this year, no silk stockings, no skirts & no full make-up.  Pat, the Aspen Sign Lady was not in the audience, but it was clearly established that the Historic Wheeler Opera House was private property. AspenSpin had to be on our best behavior. As always, Klaus Obermeyer provided a hearty yodel to kick off the season. Kudos must go out to all the NEPSA entrants as the quality of the vid submissions has never been higher.

Helga and Hans crushing it on grass.Then on to the Sundeck atop Aspen Mountain for professional ski porn from Level 1.  Their film "Sunny" dominated the recent IF3 in Montreal and contained some inspired scenes, including footage of a bunch of Japanese Cops trying to communicate with a trio of jibbers, while they were shooting urban ski scenes in parking lot in Sapporo. The Japanese Police have no idea how famous they are in the ski world.   The Cops are shown throwing the book at the skiers.  Funny stuff.

It's pretty clear that Winter is Coming...as AspenSpin got frozen out of The Meeting 8.  The suits decided that authentic coverage from an independent source was unnecessary.  The blogger does not make the cut.  No media credential for AspenSpin.  Conventional wisdom would suggest that shooting 25,000+  lifestyle photos and sharing more than 500 blog posts about Aspen and skiing would qualify us for something???  Not so, what we did get was the cold shoulder and a seat next to Mohammet, Jugdish, Sidney and Clayton.   Oh, well, bottom line, we'll miss out on the unbridled boozing and the go-kart racing and the gift bags that is The Meeting.  Unfortunately, we'll have to follow the panel discussion on twitter featuring internet BIG WIGS, @scobelizer @chasejarvis and @everywheretrip   Does that sound like sour grapes...maybe so...but at least I'm honest, and honestly...we're tired of sitting with Mohammet, Jugdish, Sidney and Clayton.

 The good news: you can still click the sickest pix from NEPSA.  It's not Gangham style...but it is real.  *All photos taken without proper media credentials*

Click  ASPEN SPELLED BACKWARDS

The NEPSA winners; Helga and Hans came out of nowhere to claim the top prize at the 2012 NEPSA Video Awards. Clcik 4 pix.Slicing and dicing put together a compelling vid, but finished out of the money.

Bromance!! The Circle of Corduroy took 3rd place and won the Audience Favorite award.Is "icing" even relevant any more? It was last night. Click 4 Pix.@sobleizer and @aspenspin havin a mind-meld at 12,000 ft. Click 4 Pix. 

The Bears of Aspen

The Bears of Aspen. click 4 pixIn the past few years it has not been uncommon to see bears roaming the streets of Aspen looking for food.  Unfortunately the bears are drawn into town, leaving their natural habitat in search of nourishment.  A few days ago a large Momma Bear and her 3 cubs settled into the trees on the Hyman Street pedestrian mall.   They feasted on crab-apples and seemed to be drawn to the al fresco dinning options that are now part of Aspen's messy vitality. 

Click 4 pix: The Bears of Aspen.

From 8 am until after dark the bears hung out in the trees as the cops cordoned off the area and gawkers multiplied.  Admittedly AspenSpin was one of those who was rubber-necking.   "They're so cute" said an I-phone yielding socialite pushing forward to get a photo.  " That is so cool" whispered an active senior as he fumbled with his android and tried to figure out how to switch to camera mode. 

I have to admit that it's awfully exciting to see wild animals up close and personal, but it's also very, very sad.  The cubs looked scared and confused and just wanted to find some chow.  The Mom kept an uneasy eye on her offspring and the gathering crowd on the Mall.   We are under the impression that these bears eventually scampered out of their tree-top safety zones and made it back to the woods.  But that's not always the case.  Sometimes the bears are "tagged" so that if they come to town again they are identifiable.  It's unclear...but apparently after a third such tagging...the bears are euthanized.

Let's hope these bears have a safe, long and restful hibernation this Winter.

 

Aspen: It's a town...and a resort.

The Aspen Police Department Team Photo, 2012.The Golden Noodle goes to Rustique. Click 4 pix.Aspen, Colorado is known as one of the premier mountain resorts in the World.  Winter or Summer,   there's something for everybody.   Now that school is back in session and Summer is over, Aspen reverts back  to a real town.  Real people, doing real stuff, living real lives albeit in a beautiful Rocky Mountain paradise.

This past weekend AspenSpin made the rounds in Aspen.  Meeting, greeting, eating, snapping and rapping. Saturday was a double-header of community events and Sunday was the Community Picnic followed by the White Party at an undisclosed private residence. 

The 2nd Annual Aspen Macaroni and Cheese Festival took over restaurant row.  20 local restaurants served up free gourmet mac & cheese samples to about 2,500 people.  Mac & cheese with truffle oil, mac & cheese with pulled pork and jalapenos, mac & cheese with portabello mushrooms and sun-dried tomatoes, mac & cheese deep fried and on-a-stick.  You get the picture...or if not click 4 pix:   A-TOWN. 

Little Annie's one of Aspen's favorite eating houses and watering holes celebrated it's 40th Birthday with a blowout bash in the streets of Aspen.   East Hyman street was closed down, man.  For a certain generation of Aspenites ...call them the "lost sheep" this was a momentous occasion and the revelry reflected that.  Bobby Mason, Hayden Gregg, Bryan Savage and a band of locals performed a rowdy set of good-time rock & roll.  The lost sheep turned back the clock and there was dancing in the streets.  Click 4 pix:  A-TOWN.

Sunday was a picture perfect blue-bird day in Aspen.  The Aspen Community Picnic at the Aspen Golf Course is a family-friendly event hosted by The City of Aspen.  A full-on BBQ with burgers, dogs and veggie patties for more than 2000 people.   The Police, the Fire Fighters, the Politicians and City Employees rolled out the red carpet for the entire town.  Fishing, putt-putt, frisbee and an inflatable bounce-house for the kids made it fun for everyone.

More BBQ-ing occurred at a very secluded, undisclosed private residence for The White Party.  12,000 square feet of party space...and everyone wore white... after labor day, no less.   Sherry is one of the most accomplished and generous hostesses in Aspen.  She loves to throw parties...for Halloween, Christmas, Mardi Gras... you name the occasion, Sherry is planning a party for it. 

Click 4 pix:  A-TOWN.

Aspen Mac 'n' Cheese Festival brought out the crowds. click 4 pix.

Little Annie's 40th Birthday: Dancing in the streets of Aspen. Click 4 pix.Bobby Mason, Hayden Gregg and the Boyz got their jam on at Little Annie's. Click 4 pix.

Politics in action at the Aspen Community Picnic. Click 4 pix.The White Party. Thanks SHERRY.

Workin' it on Labor Day in Aspen.

Labor Day is a national holiday that pays tribute to the contributions and achievements of America's workers.  So wherever you are...take the day off.  It's considered the last day of the Summer and for the fashion conscious it's the last day of the season to wear white or seersucker.

Aspen, Colorado historically gets down for Labor Day.   This year Jazz Aspen/Snowmass presents their 22nd annual Labor Day Music Festival.  This years 3 -Day jam includes headliners SUGARLAND, STEVE MILLER BAND, MUMFORD & SONS, TROMBONE SHORTY, MICHAEL FRANTI and KID ROCK.  The lineup is diverse and appears to include something for everyone.  We'll be out there takin' pix of both the artists and the attendees....so if you want to go viral?...or if you want your own reality show?...put your make-up on, say please, smile and give me your best 3/4 angle pose with your hand on your hip...and maybe you'll make the BIG Time.

Also this weekend Aspen hosts the 40th Annual Motherlode Volleyball Classic.   More than 600 doubles teams will compete in Aspen making the Motherlode the largest doubles Volleyball tournament in the world.   So if you see an unusual number of long, lean athletic looking people walking around town...you'll know why.

So fire-up for a HUGE holiday weekend.  The pix will be flying so ...smile.

Detroit's own KID ROCK will blow your face off at Jazz Aspen / Snowmass' Labor Day Music.

The 40th Annual Motherlode Volleyball Classic, Labor Day in Aspen. Photo: Robert Fullerton

Spandex Invasion : USA Pro Challenge

The best bike racers in the world rolled over Independence Pass and invaded Aspen today.  Stage 3 of the USA Pro Challenge Bike Race took over Aspen.  The grueling 130.5 mile  Silver Queen stage from Gunnison to Aspen included 9623 feet in vertical climbs and is generally considered the most difficult stage in the USA Pro, and it's the highest bike race in the World. 

Click 4 pix:  SPANDEX INVASION

The Final Results:

 Stage 3

• ·         First Place – Tom Danielson (USA) of Garmin-Sharp-Barracuda
• ·         Second Place – Damiano Caruso (ITA) of Liquigas-Cannondale
• ·         Third Place – Jakob Fuglsang (DEN) of RadioShack-Nissan-Trek

Jerseys

• ·         Exergy Leader Jersey – Christian Vande Velde (USA) of Garmin-Sharp-Barracuda
• ·         Waste Management Sprint Jersey – Damiano Caruso (ITA) of Liquigas-Cannondale
• ·         Nissan King of the Mountains Jersey – Tom Danielson (USA) of Garmin-Sharp-Barracuda
• ·         Aquadraat Best Young Rider Jersey – Joseph Lloyd Dombrowski (USA) Bontrager                                                                                            
• ·         Evolve Most Aggressive Rider Jersey – Francisco Jarley Colorado Hernandez (COL) 

Winning in Aspen. Tommy D.Stage 4, Aspen to Beaver Creek a 97.2 mile jaunt, including a return trip over Independence Pass kicks off at around 11.30 on Thursday.

The entire town of Aspen turned out for the 2nd annual USA Pro Challenge.  A labyrinth of road closings and temporary parking restrictions created a little havoc for the locals, but general consensus indicates that the course was much better laid out and less intrusive than last year.  The races and corresponding bicycle circus, including a bike expo, food trucks, music and sponsors row was packed and very well received.  Everybody had a blast.

As part of the festivities, Aspen hosted The Blue Ribbon Alpine Challenge, a 60 minute criterium for lady pro riders.  Jade Wilcoxson took the top spot.   Also on the agenda,  a locals criterium , a kids race and a sprint to the finish between Pitkin County Commissioners and Aspen City Council.   Typically the race between Pitkin County officials and Aspen's City Councilmen had no winner.  Law suits are pending.

The rain held off and Coloradoan (by way of Connecticut) Tommy Danielson dominated the climbs and handily won the Silver Queen stage crossing the finish line alone, 6 seconds ahead.  It was a good day for Team Garmin as Christian Vande Velde took over possession of the yellow jersey to signify his status as overall race leader.  Tommy D., who also leads the King of the Mountain comp. and a fan favorite credited his teammates and his wife for his win.  His team "pulled him through the valley near Buena Vista" and his wife's words were ringing in his ears at the top of Independence Pass ..."don't look back " ..."she always says.. I didn't look back...and it worked".

Click 4 PIX   SPANDEX INVASION

Inside the Peloton. No bloggers were hurt. Click 4 pix.Podium Shot. Tommy Danielson was a beast in the mountains. Click 4 pix.The Bike Expo was da bomb. The kiddies loved it. Click 4 pix.70's cover band Anthem rocked out in the park. Click 4 pix.