Freestyle in Aspen

Dennis Basso Freestyle: A benefit for the Aspen Art Museum  12/28/11

Aspen, Colorado is a great place to visit during the holidays. The natural beauty and the winter sports are the most obvious draw, but the people watching is WORLD CLASS.  There is an extremely wide spectrum of tastes and styles being displayed on and off the slopes in Aspen.  From fine furs to gore-tex, from the bling of exquisite jewelry to the utility of duct tape.

Click 4 sick pix;  FreeStyle in Aspen.

The Dennis Basso Freestyle is always a highlight event on the Aspen holiday social calendar.  The guest-list reads like a who's who in the art world. Many freestylers are also the chief benefactors of the soon-to-be built Aspen Art Museum.  Like peacocks displaying their plumes, the upscale freestyle crowd waited patiently for the photogs at the step and repeat.  Glamour pix. The narcissism was palpable.

This year's event had a special glow.  The newly remolded St Regis played host to glamorous array of guests.   The hors d'oeuvre were succulent, the champagne was plentiful and the auction items were priceless.  Models, hot chicks and rich guys were everywhere.  Security was upgraded to red. AspenSpin got into the mix. We went FREESTYLE in ASPEN. We didn't bid on the $144,000 necklace but A. Party worked that room like a hard-packed  bump run.  Very carefully, at top speed and always moving forward.  We got some sick pix, we hope you agree.

Click  FREESTYLE in ASPEN

Lance was FREESTYLIN'It got FlyGarza Family FreeStyle.Dennis Basso FreeStyle.Lisa,/ Kenny / Greer

The Wapiyapi Classic in Aspen.

There is no better feeling than seeing unrestrained joy on the face of a sick kid. 

WAPIYAPI is a Colorado organization that offers help and support to families facing childhood cancer.  Since 1998 Wapiyapi has provided no cost programs to kids with cancer and their families.  Wapiyapi is a Lakota Sioux word which means help and healing. Founded by University of Colorado Medical Students, Wapiyapi and more than 300 volunteers have provided year-round support to more than 1500 kids.

Click 4 pix:  Wapyapi Classic

The 2011 Wapiyapi Classic, a fundraiser and a bicycle ride recently took place in Aspen with a special guest leading the pack, 7-time Tour-de-France winner Lance Armstrong.  With 50 mile and 25 mile options and a picture perfect Fall day, the Wapiyapi Classic was a rousing success as more than 200 riders partook in the awesomeness.  The 20 top Wapiyapi fundraisers got to start their ride with Lance, although he eventually pulled away from the peloton to finish his 50 mile segment well ahead of anyone else.

Aspen Spin got to meet some of the Wapiyapi kids and their families.  It was obvious that a week at Wapiyapi Summer Camp was the highlight of the year for most of the kids.  We kept hearing how good it felt to be a "normal kid" and to participate in a wide variety of activities "just like the other kids".  If you've ever attended summer camp then you know about the camaraderie that develops between the campers.  Recurring themes kept popping up...color war, talent show, arts and crafts and clearly the most important memory for most of the kids...the zip line.  These kids spend a lot of time in hospital, so to get outside for a week of fun and activities with kids "just like me" is extrememly meaningful and a tremendous aid in healing.

Healing occurs in a variety of ways, not just with doctors and medicine.  At Wapiyapi, building friendships, gaining new experiences, bonding with others all contribute to the process.  Riding bikes with Lance Armstrong is part of the program too. 

Click WAPIYAPI to learn more and to support their programs. 

Click: Wapiyapi Classic for more photos.

Getting ready for the 2011 Wapiyapi Classic with Lance Armstrong. Click 4 more pix.The top fundraiser collected $17,000. She rode w/ Lance.The Wapiyapi Classic 2011 in Aspen, Colorado. Click for pix.

Throw Down in A-Town

Aspen is a small town.  Sometimes you run into someone you can't stand.

Oh to be a fly on the wall at Cache Cache in Aspen when Lance Armstrong "bumped into" Tyler Hamilton.

Local sources in Aspen texted us a heads up about the  "heated exchange" that occurred between semi-local Armstrong and his rival Hamilton, who was visiting the glamorous resort town.  The former friends allegedly almost threw down near the rest room at the upscale restaurant and bar.  Its not the first time an argument has occurred at Cache Cache (appropriately pronounced Cash Cash).  It's usually a customer who's reservation got "lost" vs the management, or a Sugar Grand Dad vs Miss Right Now.  This time it was two of the most accomplished cyclists in the world face to face in the narrow, often over crowded bar area.

Lance Armstrong has a second home in Aspen, while Hamilton was in ZG to participate in Outside in Aspen a series of promotional events.  Our source was unsure if Lance's appearance at Cache Cache was pure coincidence or he got the word and quickly popped on his townie and sped over to initiate the contact.  It was no secret that Hamilton was in town, as advertising materials for Outside in Aspen touted the Olympic Gold Medalist and recent 60 Minutes interviewee.  See the original story on the OUTSIDE BLOG.  Kudos should go out to ACRA for devising such a viral PR campaign.  Best one since Charlie Sheen and the "most expensive town" stories.

Hopefully we'll find out what really happened, although we'll probably never really know.  The media has exploded the story and now the FBI is involved according to a report from the NY Daily News.   We're sure there's more to come. 

Lance was yoked in Aspen. Click to enlarge. Tyler Hamilton was in town 4 Outside in Aspen