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.

Free Gear for EVERY KID in Aspen.

Jeff Gorsuch: Modern Day Santa> Click 4 pix.It was a chaotic scene in the Gorsuch ski shop in Aspen tonight for AVSC Scholarship Night.  100's of pairs of boots and skis were strewn across the store.  The line of happy kids wound out the door as they patiently waited to be fitted for their new gear.  Thanks to AVSC, Gorsuch and Ski Co. every kid in the Roaring Fork Valley that needs ski & snowboard equipment gets it.  Every year, Gorsuch &  D & E distribute about 400 gear set-ups to local kids.  "It's all about community" said Jeffrey Gorsuch.  "It's one of my favorite nights of the year" he added.  You could see the joy in Jeff's face as he greeted each and every little shaver with a huge smile and a hearty, larger-than-life welcome.

Click 4 pix  Free Gear for Every Kid.

AspenSpin knows how Jeff feels.  We've covered several AVSC Scholarship nights and the smiling, beaming faces of the groms never gets old.  Think about it.  You're a little kid...you get to visit one of the fanciest stores in Aspen and get fitted for "slightly used" gear....for free.  In addition to the ski equipment the children are treated to home-made baked goods, psychedelic colored beanies and first class service.  Now that's gnarly.   The parents, the kids, the staff at Gorsuch all throw off an electrifying buzz.   The store was overflowing with excitement, happiness and gratitude. 

AVSC, Gorsuch and Ski Co. have made the following  pledge;   That no child in the Roaring Fork Valley who wishes to participate in skiing or riding should be held back by finances.  The AVSC Scholarship program requires some paper-work...but no child will be turned away.  PRETTY COOL if you ask me.  In conjunction with AVSC Scholarship Night, the National Council of AVSC hosted a little cocktail soiree next door at the main Gorsuch Store in Gondola Plaza as a way  to kick off the season.  AVSC is prepping for a HUGE ski season with 16 members riding with the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Teams this Winter.  Also throw in the brand new super-tramp at the AVSC clubhouse and more than 2200 participants ready to ride...and you've got a nice little season planned.  The official AVSC family friendly kick-off event takes place this Saturday at the new Elk Camp Restaurant at Snowmass.   Don't forget AJAX CUP, December 30, 2012, it's always the party of the year.   Click AVSC for all the info.

This event is AspenSpin's favorite.  The exuberance, the exhilaration and the optimism abounds.  The happiness on the faces of the Children (and their parents) is something that you can't buy in a store.  It's real and it's authentic...and it's Aspen. 

Click 4 Pix.    FREE GEAR

Free Gear for EVERY KID. That's Aspen. Click 4 more pix.It's a free gear free-for-all 4 AVSC Scholarship Night in Aspen. Click 4 pix.Willy was working hard...but giving back feels good. Click 4 more pix.These guys make it happen for about 400 kids. Derek Johnson (D & E) Mark Cole (AVSC) and Jeff Gorsuch (Gorsuch). Click to see all the pix from AspenSpin.

Skiing with Haute Hippie

At AspenSpin we are inundated with P.R. inquiries...about 25 per week.  The vast majority of them are irrelevant to our viewers.  Hello??? We don't do advertorials about diapers, batteries, video games or nutritional supplements.  We stick to our core competency...skiing every day and partying every night.

When I was contacted by Haute Hippie...something clicked. I thought to myself, "it's a super-cool name, I wonder what they do?"  The initial contact was a friendly and personal invitation to attend their in-store event during Aspen Fashion Week.  Haute Hippie / Haute Hoodie...I wasn't even sure where the store was located, or what their concept was all about.  We made a few calls to our fasionista network. Turns out all the stylish ladies know about Haute Hippie.  "It's awesome" said one of my NYC friends.  "Their stuff is so cool" exclaimed another fashion forward friend from Cali.  A third call revealed the same thing... Haute Hippie is a very, very hot name in fashion.

Click the pix:   Skiing with Haute Hippie

Haute Hoodie in-strore even in Aspen.The Aspen concept store is a joint venture with Gorsuch and is located in The Little Nell (next to Dennis Basso).  We decided to check it out.  WOW.  Haute Hippie and it's related line Haute Hoodie are more than just labels ... Haute Hippie is a lifestyle.  The small retail space was filled with garments that looked stylish, comfortable and luxurious...plus the sales-person, Alex is smoking hot.  I took a few sick-pix and I was on my way.

I received a text, Jesse Cole, Co-founder and Co-Creative Director of Haute Hippie and Haute Hoodie was in Aspen on a boys trip.  Do I want to meet him?

Jesse who's main vocation is finance co-founded the HH fashion lines with his wife Trish Wescoat Pound.  Trish is the designer and Jesse is the muse. I learned a lot, Haute Hippie is a true labor of love.  It's about producing chic, elegant and comfortable clothes that can be dressed up..or dressed down.  It's about the deluxe knit fabrics and a sophisticated mind-set.  HH is designed for and inspired by global nomads, people on the go.  It's clothing that can function in a vast array of world-wide arenas. HH is for times when you want to experience ultra comfort...but you still want to look cool.   Jesse explained that Trish is a "rock and roll bohemian and a global gypsy" and upon further review of her collections,  it became clear that Haute Hippie and Haute Hoodie truly reflect that ethos.  Jesse's passion for Trish and their co-creation was evident and real. He explained that HH was inspired by music, travel and experiences.  "They should be your favorite Sunday clothes" he added.

Haute Hippie / Haute Hoodie crew in Aspen. click 4 pix.Skiing with fashionistas is not normally AspenSpin's M.O., but Jesse and his boys were interested in a "tour of Aspen Mountain".  WTF??, they seemed pretty chill.  So the next day we skied.  It was a gorgeous, warm, beautiful bluebird day in Aspen... and the Noooo Yawkers were keepin' up pretty well.  Jesse, Mikey the C.,  David and I hooked up with Greg the Hedgie and his foxy wife Tara.  The Snow started to soften up so we pushed it a little.  We took runs through The Dumps, we tackled the Ridge of Bell and the Shoulder of Bell.  We all had a great time. I showed them my world and I learned about theirs.

So I'll say it... I'm a HUGE fan of Haute Hippie.  You can't fake authenticity.  Haute Hippie and Haute Hoodie are authentic lifestyle fashions that are inspired by love. The love between Jesse and Trish...as well as a love for life, a love of new experiences,  a love of music, a love of style and comfort and a love exotic places.  Haute Hippie is already blowing up in upscale, contemporary fashion circles.  HH has been featured in publications such as Elle, W, Cosmo, Vanity Fair...and now AspenSpin.  So if you see me bopping around Aspen wearing a stylie and comfortable Haute Hoodie poncho, you'll know where it came from.  If you dig it...give me a "wut up"? and I'll pass it on to Jesse and Trish.  You can get HH at Saks, Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus and other fine stores...or right here in Aspen at the HH concept shop at Gorsuch at The Little Nell.

Good Deeds and Big Deeds in Aspen.

Aspen Business Luncheon: Neal & DavToday was a great one in Aspen. TIA...This is Aspen,  the paper featured an article about ACRA complaining about locals "b*tching" about the early season conditions. Click:  ACRA (please play nice) .  Then AspenSpin skied 5 quick laps top to bottom. I love the smell of Spar Gulch in the morning.   Then around 10:30 the lighting changed on Copper. It was as if God had shined a flashlight smack down the middle.  Guess what?? No one else was there, except for the rippers I was with--- who were tooling at nearly 70 MPH.  It was hard and flat...and there were a few rocks---but it was fun.  Market that!!!  Then some really good news for AspenSpin.  We were named the #1 snow sports blogger on twitter.  Wow #1 feels good, but the comp. is tight. See the List, Click;  #1 Blogger

Mid-day we hit Todd Shaver's Aspen Business Luncheon at The Wheeler Opera House.  World Class Mountaineers Chris Davenport and Neal Beidleman presented fascinating personal insights and an epic slide show from their recent trip to the Summit of Mt. Everest.  Their most recent expedition, last Spring was compared  to Neal's fateful trip "into thin air" in 1996.  These guys crushed it on Everest, even getting a rare ski decent on the famous Lhotse Face.   Apparently the POW was pretty good at 8000 meters.   It was clear from the intimate discussion that Neal found some peace of mind on his return to Everest.  His previous trip ended badly, as lives were lost and the entire trip was documented in Jon Krakauer's best selling book.  Although Neal  was considered a hero during that first expedition, his return trip to Everest provided an emotional closure for him.  Chris and Neal did a great job, as always, and The Aspen Business Luncheon was interesting, fun and informative.

Late afternoon we hit the AVSC gear event at Gorsuch.  Over 200 AVSC scholarship kids got free ski equipment for the season courtesy of Gorsuch.   This is one of our favorite events of the season.  The beaming smiles on the faces of the kids and their parents as they got geared up for the season was incredible.  Many of these kids would not be skiing if it weren't for the generosity of Gorsuch, AVSC and Ski Co.   One thing was evident, the Gorsuch staff and the AVSC coaches were smiling just as bright as the kids.

Click 4 Pix.  Good Deeds and Big Deeds in Aspen.

Let's be honest.  Aspen probably has more non-profits per capita than any place else, so there's "a lotta love in this Valley".  What makes the AVSC /Gorsuch event so special is the "hands on nature" of it.  One on one philanthropy.  Fittting a kid with boots, handing out skis and poles, treating them to punch and cookies as well as providing a free beanie to everyone....It's all good dude.  Jeff Gorsuch is a BIG man around here...and he has a BIG heart. He and his entire family along with the Gorsuch staff were clearly thrilled to give something back to the kids.  The smiles were gigantic.   Hopefully the joy that was evident tonight at Gorsuch comes through in the photos below.

Click 4 Pix:   GOOD DEEDS and BIG DEEDS in ASPEN.

The Gorsuch Family doing good deeds for the AVSC kids. Click 4 more pix.Over 200 kids got Skis, Boots and Poles...and plenty of good vibes. Click 4 pix.This kid is ready to shred, thanks to Gorsuch, AVSC and Ski Co. Click 4 Pix.Let's do it....Let's Ski. everybody was thrilled to get geared up at Gorsuch. Click 4 Pix.

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.