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.

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.

AVSC 75th Anniversary Party

The Aspen Valley Ski and Snowboard Club (AVSC) officially celebrated it's 75th Anniversary with a major blow-out bash at Bumps Restaurant at Buttermilk.    AVSC is the largest local Winter Sports Club in the country. This season AVSC reached 2,175 participants, provided 675 scholarships and donated 300 sets of equipment.  AVSC offers competitive and recreational programs in Alpine, Nordic, Freeride, Snowboard and Adaptive disciplines.   AVSC has produced 23 Olympians, 19 X Games Athletes,  19 members of the Colorado Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame and countless numbers of U.S. Ski Team competitors and collegiate athletes. 

75 years is an amazing acomplishment.  Click 4 pix: AVSC 75

Everyone in Aspen is aware of AVSC's young athletes.  They stand out on the mountain... buzzing around in a variety of distinctive uniforms, ripping up the terrain with skill and speed.  While the competitive teams are known for their success,  the mission of AVSC is to "Provide all youth in the greater Roaring Fork Valley an opportunity to develop as athletes and as people through Winter sports". The History of AVSC is illustrious.  The club started in the Winter of 36/37, 10 years before Aspen Skiing Company.  Learn more  about the club, click TEAM AVSC.

AVSC is an exhaulted member of the Aspen community and it was no surprise that AVSC went BIG for their 75th.  Everybody was there.  Hands were shaken, backs were slapped and kisses and hugs were prevalent.  Families with 3 or 4 generations of AVSC participants filled Bumps to capacity.  Awards were given for Athletic Achievement, Vision, Family, Community Impact, Volunteerism and more.   The award winners are a who's who of Aspen's A-Team. The Marolts,  Bob Beattie, Jeff Gorsuch, Dick Butera, David Stapleton, Aspen Skiing Company, Gretchen Bleiler, Andy Mill and others.  

AVSC also announced their plans to raise $15 million.   $7.5 mil for the Bob Beattie Perpetual Endowment Fund to provide for under privileged kids.  The other  $7.5 mil for is training facilities, tramps, ramps, foam pits and hopefully a nordic jumping site.   AVSC has already received pledges for more than $5mil, so they are well on their way.

It was a great night.  Click 4 pix.  AVSC 75

Gretchen Bleiler (with her husband Chris) received the AVSC Athletic Excellence AwardAspen Ski Co. CEO Mike Kaplan accepted the Most Valuable Partner Award from AVSC. Click 4 pixWold Cup Skier Wiley Maple and his dude Sam met some AVSC ladies at the 75th. Cllick 4 pix.Olympian Andy Mill kept it light as he accepted an Athletic Excellence Award. click 4 more pix.The entire Marolt Family recieved the Legacy Award at the AVSC 75th. Click 4 pix.