National Champs from Aspen

Two local AVSC and U.S. Ski Team racers took home top honors at the U.S. National Alpine Skiing Championships at Sugarloaf,Maine.

Fan favorite Wiley Maple ripped the fastest lap in Men's Downhill lap topping a stacked field to grab the GOLD. He also finished 5th in Super G.   Glenwood's Alice McKennis shredded to victory in the Ladies Super G securing the highest tier on the podium.

Congratulations to both Wiley and Alice who have worked extremely hard and battled through injuries.  The fruits of victory must feel especially sweet to ASPEN's NATIONAL CHAMPS. 

Wiley Maple National Champ Photo: Scott Sanford via FB.

 Alice McKennis National Champ Super G. Photo: Jamie Walters / Sugarloaf

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 

Gearing up with AVSC and Gorsuch

Chaos ensues at Gorsuch for AVSC Free Ski Night. Jared stays cool.Every year in early December, kids from all over the Roaring Fork Valley fire up for their special night.   Every kid in the Valley that needs ski gear gets it courtesy of a grass roots program established by AVSC and Gorsuch...and D & E (for snowboards).   Most of these kids would not have ski gear if it weren't for the generosity of AVSC and Gorsuch.   The program originally established by "The Coach" Bob Beattie at AVSC allows about 300 kids to gear up.   It's not new gear...but it's new to them, and it's free, and it's properly fitted.   

Click 4 pix.  GEARING UP

The free ski night is one of AspenSpin's favorite events of the year.   The glowing eyes and  beaming smiles of the kids are transcendent.   The line starts forming in front of Gorsuch at 4 pm sharp.  Hundreds of pairs of boots, skis and poles are strewn about the store.   Semi-organized chaos insues for the next 3 or 4 hours as every kid is outfitted with gear for the ski season.  Jeff Gorsuch, who spear-heads the equipment giveaway siad it loud and clear... "it's all about community".   The Gorsuch staff along with several volunteers crank it up to 11 and keep the assembly line flowing.  Sizing the boots, choosing the skis and setting the bindings for 100's of thankful kids.

Next store in the Gorsuch apparel store, the AVSC staff and National Council welcomed all-time great ski racer Lasse Kjus to free ski night.  Kjus who has done and seen it all in skiing was moved by the joy and happiness on the faces of the kids...and the staff and volunteers.

Hopefully the photos capture the energy of the event.  The kids love the gear and the first class treatment dolled out by AVSC, Gorsuch abd D & E.   Personally, I think it's the best night of the year.

 Click 4 pix. GEARING UP

The whole family gets geared up at Gorsuch. Thanks to AVSC.Who needs boots....I do!!!Renie Gorsuch and Bob Beattie sharing thier love of skiing with all the kids.Reveling in the new gear and first class treatment.Almost all of the Gorsuch Family with Lasse Kjus.

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.

Wiley Maple: Aspen's World Class Ski Racer

Wiley Maple, Aspen's World Cup racer. CourtesyPhoto: US Ski Team.Wiley Maple was born and raised in Aspen, Colorado.  He's the son of a skiing family.  Wiley is now a 22 year old world class ski racer who came up through the ranks chasing gates with AVSC.  As a grom he landed on the podium more often than not.

Wiley Maple now races against the world's best competition on the FIS World Cup circuit,  the major leagues of ski racing.   He scored his first World Cup points last season...and this Winter he's back for more as a member of the U.S. Ski Team.  Wiley is currently prepping for the upcoming World Cup season after overcoming a complicated knee surgery and the corresponding summer-long re-hab.  Wiley trained extremely hard all Summer according to our sources at Park City's Center for Excellence, where the U.S. Ski Team trains.  He is currently ripping laps on the snow at the U.S. Ski Team's Speed Center at Copper Mountain.

Wiley's Boyz came out to support him. Click 4 pix.Last night the whole town of Aspen came out to support Wiley with a fund-raiser at the Wheeler Opera House. It's an expensive proposition to be a ski racer.  Travel costs alone are a small fortune.  Mike Marolt and Montezuma Basin productions helped roll out the red carpet with a siiiiiiiick silent auction and the showing of the cultier than cult film...Deep Winter. 

Click: Wiley 4 more pix

It's not to late to do Wiley a solid.   Wiley needs to raise $22,000 for expenses not covered by the U.S. Ski Team.   He'll be heading to Europe soon,  so  c'mon skiers, Aspenites, all 1% ers, 47 %ers....everybody.  Let's help Wiley realise his full potential.  Click the link to Wiley Maple's Pay Pal  account and give generously.

 WILEY MAPLE's WORLD CUP Page.

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Ed Cross and Richard Allen are Aspen veterans who came out to support Wiley Maple. Click 4 Pix.

Aunt Marlene's decadent Marvelous Hot Fudge was a HUGE seller. Click 4 pix.These groms came out to support their home town hero. Click 4 pix.