Early Bird Special - Aspen Style

An EARLY OPENING DAY in Aspen/Snowmass??  Sounds good right?  Sign me up for that. Ski Season 2011/12 is here.  In Aspen, ummmm Snowmass the lifts fired up and the ropes dropped 5 days early.  Snowmass Mountain was primed for action.  Plenty of early season snow storms up top created an early-bird treat for the locals.  AspenSpin and many others officially kicked off the 2011/12 ski season on November 19, 2011 at Snowmass. 

Click 4 Pix:  EARLY BIRD SPECIAL - ASPEN STYLE

AspenSpin doesn't get out to Snowmass very often, but we jumped on the opportunity to click in EARLY and RIDE.  Turns out it was POW day (sort of). Super-freaky high winds on Thursday and Friday blew most of the snow off of the Big Burn...but it was still open for business. There was even some freshies. Ankle deep in spots...but we can't tell you where.   Another 3-4" fell during the day.

Our commute was extended a wee bit, but it was "all good" on Saturday.   Being "steps away" from the Gondy on Ajax spoils us. It makes the high speed 20 minute ride on Owl Creek Road, free parking (nice) and the 2 lifts to the top seem a litlle management intensive.  For the record, AspenSpin loves FREE PARKING.  Forgetting your boots in town is not a good way to kick-off, but we realized our false start before the round-about.   It was AWESOME to get out there on the mountain and do some figure 11's.  It was pretty cold and windy...that's why they call it Winter, but we were skiing... and it was fun to have the breeze and snow in your face again.  Plenty of people were ripping at high speeds on the variable early-season conditions.  We avoided any and all human-on-human collisions and we didn't eat any wood... which is always good.  The speed, the freedom, the physical activity... there's a reason people are passionate about skiing and riding.  In Aspen, ski season is officially upon us and it came 5 days early this year.

Friday Night kicked off the weekend in style at THE WHEELER OPERA HOUSE with a screening of ALL.I. CAN. from Sherpa Films and the locally shot movie,  IF YOU WANT TO FLY from Vital Films.  Both flicks were AWESOME and helped raise money and awareness for ALPINE INITIATIVES a non-profit that strives to get action-oriented people to take action against climate change.  Click their link to learn how you can help take action.  ALPINE INITIATIVES.  The Siiiiick after party at THE RED ONION went all night long.

Turns out AspenSpin is 2 legit 2 quit. We're hoarding a bunch of new equipment from KJUS, KASTLE, HESTRA and others.  GORSUCH even tuned up our rock skis (just in case) and THE ASPEN CLUB's ski-conditioning class definitely paid dividends.  

So we'll see ya out there...almost every day. We're doing the snow dance right now. Let's get it on, Aspen.   Click 4 Pix  EARLY BIRD SPECIAL-- ASPEN STYLE

V.P. of Marketing Christian Knapp samples the goods. Photo: Jeremy Swanson / ASC.Torin Yater-Walace shows his opening day form. Photo: Jeremy Swanson / ASC. click 4 pix.

Halloween Eye Candy

Halloween in Aspen.Halloween is one of the biggest nights of the year in Aspen.  It's like New Year's Eve for the Locals.  One thing is for certain, people in Aspen Go BIG for Halloween.

Click 4 PIX    HALLOWEEN EYE CANDY 

(u can tag if u want to)

Aspen Spin made the rounds and snapped the pix.  We only hit 7 parties this year...but we captured the best of the best on Aspen's BIGGEST NIGHT.

Aspen Parks and Recreation's Skating Party at the Arc. --  Icy fun for the Kids

Private Event in a HUGE mansion. --    Posh partying in North Star

The Red Onion -- Aspen's favorite Saloon since 1892                   

The Aspen Square -- A traditional Favorite

The Aspen Elks Club -- The Elks know how to Party

The Spazmatics Show -- 80's Rock and $500 for best costume

The Caribou Club -- What goes at the Bou..stays at the Bou.

Aspen: It's a Ski Town, Bro!

Aspen, Colorado is a small and very beautiful town.  A high alpine village at 8000 ft. at the end of the road.  Once the snow hit's the mountains there's only one way in...and...one way out.   Aspen means a lot of different thing to different people.  The restaurants, the shopping, the art galleries, the Aspen Institute , the night life,  the music and culture, the development opportunities, the snow polo.  Everyone has their own individual reasons for loving Aspen and their own definition of the Aspen Idea... Body, Mind and Spirit.

AspenSpin has an announcement to make.  Aspen:  It's a SKI TOWN, Bro!!!

Aspen has a reputation of being a playground for the rich and famous, of being over-the-top expensive,  the glitz and the glamour ...the see and be seen mentality.  Sure--some of that is true, but this past weekend Aspen reaffirmed it's position as THE CAPITOL of SKIING (and snowboarding). 

The Nordic Track. Click 4 Pix.Nordic Skiing is not the first Olympic sport that rolls off your lips, yet Aspen has produced 2 world class NORDIC Skiers; NOAH HOFFMAN and SIMI HAMILTON.  Both are members of the U.S. Ski Team, World Cup competitors and Olympic hopefuls for 2014 in Sochi.   Funding is always tight in the nordic world and this year the U.S. Ski Team has reduced their level of support.  The Aspen Community came together last weekend at The Limelight Lodge to throw a fundraising event for our local boys, Noah and Simi.   The Limelight was packed with well wishers and philanthropic minded locals. Approximately $40,000 was raised to help support the Olympic dreams of Noah and Simi.  Aspen Local and 1980 U.S. Olympic Nordic team Captain Craig Ward emceed the event and said " it takes a community to make an Olympian".  The generosity and support of the Aspen Community was out in full force.  U.S. Ski Team mates Sylvan Ellefson (Vail) and Tad Elliot (Durango) attended the festivities as a sign of solidarity.  Parents, teachers, coaches, neighbors and friends celebrated having 4 of the top 8 U.S. Nordic skiers in the U.S. in the house. Contact and support the guys directly at www.hoff.colorado@gmail.com  and www.simihamilton.com The money raised will allow Noah and Simi to compete at full throttle all winter.

Click 4 PIX     THE NORDIC TRACK

Like There's No Tomorrow. It's a Ski Town. Click 4 Pix.Warren Miller's 62nd annual ski film... LIKE THERE'S NO TOMORROW had 3 screenings at the historic Wheeler Opera House is Aspen.   Like There's No Tomorrow did not disappoint the rowdy crowds at the Wheeler.  Two of Aspen's local heros, brothers Chris Davenport and Ted Davenport lit up the screen starring in the film's best segments.  Chris was featured in 2 scenes, first he conquered New Hampshire's historic Tuckerman Ravine. Tuckerman's, a large glacial cirque on Mt. Washinton is known to have some of the worst weather in the world and has long been a proving ground for the East Coast's top skiers.  As always, Dav made it look easy ripping on all snow conditions (including ice) with his ever present quiver of Kastle Skis.   Chris was featured in a second segment skiing huge peaks in the Andes near Portillo, Chille with Julia Mancuso (AspenSpin's favorite skier). 

Little Bro, Ted Davenport sent some sick lines in the Southern Alps on New Zealand's South Island.  Ted,  a two-time World Heli Challenge Champion showed some of the skills that put him on top of the podium. Face shots, cliff hucks and pillow drops are all every day occurrences in Ted World.  Currently recovering from a horrific crash in last year's competition, Ted the Shred should be back on skis (and B.A.S.E. jumping) soon.

Click 4 Pix:  LIKE THERE's NO TOMMOROW

Spyder VIP's at Aspen Sports. click 4 pix.Colorado based SPYDER brought their A-Team to Aspen for the weekend in the larger than life Spyder Antidote Winabago.    TOMMY MOE (Olympic Downhill Gold Medalist),  JULIAN CARR (big mountain ripper and founder of Discrete), JAKE ZAMANSKY (Aspen local and Olympian) along with The DAV's hosted a VIP autograph session at ASPEN SPORTS on the Cooper Street Mall.   The Aspen Sport's Spyder Concept shop pulled out all the stops for an intimate, family friendly meet-n-greet.

Click 4 Pix:  ASPEN SPORTS / SPYDER   VIP Event.

AspenSpin experienced a milestone for which we are extremely proud.  We received a brief cameo appearance in Warren Miller's LIKE THERE's NO TOMORROW.  AspenSpin can't get on Plum TV, but we made the Warren Miller Movie...and they can never tke that away.  You'll have to pay attention to see our "segment", but heads up, it's in the first 2 minutes of the film.  A-Spin's  2 1/2 seconds of fame was captured by Colby James West's POV shoulder cam at the 2011 Powder Video Awards and made the big screen thanks to Warren Miller Enterprises.  What a rush for A. Party; to be in the audience and to unexpectedly see yourself on the HUGE screen....yeeeeeeeah.  We love this place.

It's not even Halloween yet and AJAX is covered with snow. This weekend Aspen hosted Olympic Champions, World Champions and Olympic hopefuls and the greatest Warren Miller Movie ever (we're a little biased).

Yeah...it might be a lot of different things to a lot of differnt people---but ASPEN is a SKI TOWN, BRO...and don't forget it.

Click 4 Pix   THE NORDIC TRACK     and    ASPEN:  It's a SKI TOWN, BRO!!

These guys are ready to RIP. Tim, Schultz, Pearl and Chris at Warrewn Miller. click 4 pix.Olympic Gold medalists, World Champs, First to scale the 14ers. It's a SKI Town. click 4 pixThe Spyder / Aspen Sports VIP Events brought out all the rippers. Click 4 pix.

Charity Season kicks off in Aspen

Aspen, a town of 5000 residents, is home to almost 300 non-profit organizations.   There's a a lotta love in this valley.  AspenSpin always tries to pitch-in and lend-a-hand to those causes that we truly believe in.  Last night two of our favorite charities in Aspen held simultaneous kick-off events.  Luckily its a small town so we were able to attend both kick-off parties.  Two at once, that's how we roll.

See our pix: Click:  Aspen Charity Kickoff.

The Chris Klug Foundation (CKF) held their 6th Annual Summit for Life Kick-Off event at 39 Degrees at The Sky Hotel.  Aspen Local, Chris Klug is an Olympic medalist, a tremendous athlete and an all-around good guy.  He is also the recipient of a liver transplant.  Chris admits that the new liver saved his life and he has since dedicated his time, energy and fund-raising ability to raise awareness  about organ donation.  CKF is hosting the 6th Annual Summit for Life Weekend on Dec. 9 & 10, 2011.  Summit for Life takes place on Aspen Mountain and the main event is the 3,267 vertical foot uphill climb.  Over 300 hearty soles brave the Aspen, Colorado Winter to hike or ski or snowshoe UP Aspen Mountain.

Register to participate or to sponsor a racer.   Click:  SUMMIT 4 LIFE.

Movember is an international month-long moustache growing charity event to raise awareness for prostate cancer.  Men from all over the world, known as Mo-Bro's grow their facial hair and solicit contributions to benefit The Prostate Cancer Foundation and The Lance Armstrong Foundation. All over the World, the month of November (a.k.a. Movember) is filled with parties, events and fund raisers.  The Aspen Chapter of Movember kicked off their efforts last night at Jimmy's. 

Click:  MOVEMBER to learn more and donate.

American Idol : The Talent Hits Aspen

American Idol films in Aspen, ColoradoAspen Spin entered the inner sanctum of Fox TV's American Idol,  at the judges auditions in Aspen, Colorado.  Once you get behind the curtain of Fox's #1 rated hit television series it's an extremely regulated and controlled environment.  Security was ultra tight and highly visible.   We haven't seen so many huge dudes with ear pieces dressed in black since Bill Clinton came to town.  The American Idol machine is well oiled as it preps for it's 11th season which premiers Sunday January 22, 2012 immediately following the NFC Championship game.

Luckily, we have a friend with connections at Fox, so A-Spin was added to the media list for the American Idol press conference at the Doerr-Hosier Center at Aspen Meadows.   The rules were perfectly clear ..."no still photos, no personal questions"  Whaaaaaat?? No photos??   The message that we received from the PR hotties..loud and clear... is that Fox and A.I. like to control their own message.  It was instantly obvious that Aspen Spin was identified as a possible "hot spot".  A very large bald guy (size estimate 6'8" 290 lbs) apparently was assigned to keep an eye peeled on the blogger as he never got very far outside my personal space.

"Emmy Nominated" host Ryan Seacrest was first out of hair and make-up.  He slung an arm around my shoulder, thinking it was the bouncer about to hassle me, I turned to find a perfectly coifed Ryan who encouraged me to ask Randy about his "high altitude rash". "Grammy-Award winning producer" Randy Jackson returning as an A.I. judge was next out of the dressing area. "Wut up dawg?" he called out as he fist pumped me on his way to podium.  " I like dat hat, dawg, ...and the shades". "This is Aspen" I replied trying to sound super-duper cool.   Then J-Lo, "Global Icon" Jennifer Lopez came out.  Wow!!!  she is haaaaawt in person.  We exchanged a fist bump as I pulled out my shooter and asked sheepishly "hey girl, you wanna be on Aspen Spin"?  She appeared to be amiable and soft spoken, almost shy and very polite... along with being illuminatingly fine.  She waved a friendly, smoking hot finger in my face and said "no still photos please".   The bouncer gave me a serious dosage of stink eye, so I put my camera away. "Rock Legend" Steven Tyler took the long way around to the stage, avoiding Aspen Spin, so we missed out on a personal interaction with the final judge.

The first few questions were obvious plants from a "coordinating entertainment producer" at Fox News Network (with 4 linked connections and 1 film credit on IMDB for the role of "Reporter" in the Fantastic Four Movie).  The Rock Legend Tyler,  took the opportunity to answer the first softball question by throwing down an Aerosmith-like vocal solo....sort of a yodel.  Randy commented..."it's a little pitchy, dawg".  J Lo. was sporting a pair of very sexy shorts (by Tibe) and spiked heels (by Christian Louboutin) admitted she "works wit (sic) a stylist". who apparently failed to plan for today's snow flurries in Aspen.  When Ryan was asked about preparing for stardom he said  "you can't prepare for it...but remember who you are".  Randy talked about the"high level of talent" and the "hippie chicks" in the Colorado Region  and warned San Diego (the last stop on American Idol's tour) to be "all of it" next week.  Executive Producer Nigel Lythgoe confirmed the 25 to 30 contestants from the Colorado Region would make the cut and earn a trip to Hollywood.

When asked about visiting Aspen, his first trip since 1976, Rock Legend Steven Tyler said, "We love it here, the town is empty and its ours, we own it".

What Rock Legend Steven Tyler and the whole BIG TIME crew of American Idol might not realize... a lot of people think they own Aspen.

All images provided by Fox TV.

The American Idol auditions made the BIG Time in Aspen. Photo: Courtsey of Fox TV. / Michael Becker