Boobs, Brains and Boys.

Shout out to all my sisters. SAFETY FIRSTI've been wearing a pink ribbon on my ski helmet for a while now in support of Women with Breast Cancer.  The pink ribbon is the international symbol of breast cancer awareness.  Its my way of showing moral support for boobs everywhere.  I lost a close friend to breast cancer about 20 years ago...and the small cloth on the back of my brain bucket is just my way of saying "wut up"? to all my sisters.

BOOBS, BRAINS and BOYS (Click 4 Pix).

You'd be surprised how much commentary I hear about the ribbon.  From curious strangers to macho mountain men...i get a lot of questions about it.  On the mountain the pink ribbon makes me easy to spot...if you're looking for me...and easy to avoid if you're not. Save the Date: Komen Aspen will host SKI for the CURE on February 9th on Aspen Mountain.

I started wearing a helmet several years ago after striking a tree head first.  Earlier this season...my helmet with the pink ribbon probably saved me.  At a minimum I avoided a sled trip down Ajax and a $900 ride to the hospital.  There was a high-speed "incident". I caught a tip. I was wearing my clown shoes (rockered K2 Sidestashes). It was sort of like stubbing a toe. Travelling at approximately 40 M.P.H. (60 if u have an i phone app) I went airborn and got twisted backwards and slammed the back of my head on the ground...hard...very hard. It was a whiplash situation. Not cool.  I was dazed but OK. My glasses were broken, my pole was bent into an L shape and my neck and head hurt from the forceful slam.  It was a bad fall...maybe my worst ever.   The helmet probably saved me. I got off lucky...thanks to my helmet. Within an hour my glasses were fixed and the guys at Gosuch had heated up my pole and bent it back into shape.  Despite a pretty bad headache...I was fine.  That was until the next day..when my #2 molar cracked and fell out.  Ouch.  My helmet saved me.  Nothing a dental crown won't fix.

The Boyz were waxed and ready for the 36th edition of Aspen Gay Ski Week. click 4 pix.Soon after the fall I was contacted by OSBE HELMETS.  They are famous Italian motorcycle helmet manufacturers...HUGE in Europe.  The Osbe guy sent me a message... "you need a new helmet".  I already felt guilty because OSBE sent me a pretty sweet helmet last year that I rarely used. I pinged back, "Not really".  The guy insisted...told me to pick one out on-line.  I flipped through the web site and eye-balled a sick, slick, pink euro-styled topper with a power ranger feel to it.  I sent the guy the model number...and 3 days later...there it was on my doorstep...a pink helmet.  If you want to SAVE 10% on an Osbe go to OBSE USA and use the promo code ASPENSPIN (all caps).

Friday,  I broke the pink bad boy out & wore it to shred on a beautiful Colorado bluebird day.  It happened to be the annual day Aspen Gay Ski Week Parade on Aspen Mountain. 2500 gay guys liked my lid. I got a lot of positive commentary on it.  The ladies especially liked it.  Safe and stylish...all in one.  pink package. A female ski friend said "it takes balls to wear a pink helmet".  Thanks bro-girl.

Saturday was "SAFETY DAY" on Ajax, sponsored by the National Ski Areas Association the and National Ski Patrol. It's part of the annualon mountain NATIONAL SAFETY WEEK : Jan 19-27.  Hot dogs, stickers, avalanche dogs...all to promote safety and especially helmet use.

I didn't need to be convinced.  I've learned 3 lessons recently.

1) Protect the head.  Wear a helmet.  Safety first.

2) Everyone loves Boobs.  Men, Women, babies...so support Breast Cancer Awareness.

3) Boys will be Boys. Aspen GSW confirmed that it's probably the hardest partying, highest spending, fastest living week of the season.   Aspen thanks GSW, see you next year.

The cold snap broke and it warmed up to 30 but we're all still praying for POW here in Aspen. The Aussies and the Brazillians are helping pump up our economy. Aspen GSW was back in style for the 36th year.  As always the guys treated themselves royally in aspen.  Next week is X Games...so we'll be going HUGE again.  

In Aspen, Colorado the action never stops....and thats why we love it.

BOOBS, BRAINS and BOYS (click 4 pix)

Jane the Avalanche Dog was showing off her training at Safety Day on Ajax. Click 4 Pix.

Free Hot Dogs for Safety Day on Aspen Mountain. The Ski Patrol in Aspen is fantastic. Click 4 Pix.

The festive ski parade in Aspen for Gay Ski Week. Click for pix.

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.

Hyper-Local in Aspen

Aspen is a small mountain town at the end of the road, but it's unlike any ski town in America. In addtion to a semi-thriving tourism business  Aspen also has the 3 C's; Community, Camaraderie and Culture.  Aspen maintains a tightly knit, highly nuanced social fabric unlike most resort towns.  This allows the Locals and the Tourists to coexist in harmony (mostly).  Hollywood has it's TMZ (Thirty Mile Zone)...but Aspen has THE TBR...The Three Block Radius. 

Last night AspenSpin pulled a Quad in the TBR,  4 events all within the three block radius.  Niiiiice.

Get the Girls Out Day on Ajax for SheJumps.org.SHEJUMPS.org had their first ever "Get the Girls Out Day" on Aspen Mountain as well several other ski hills throughout the U.S.  SHEJUMPS.org  strives to increase female participation in out door activities by building a supportive community. 

ASPEN YOGA SOCIETY  hosted their first-ever Yoga Rave last night.  An awesome DJ, a big room and plenty of stretching and dancing.  ASPEN YOGA SOCIETY uses yoga as a tool to discover and maximize human potential.

HOCKEY 4 HOPE.  The Aspen Police vs. The Mother Puckers in an ice-hockey tilt to support THE ASPEN HOPE CENTER.  The 2nd annual grudge match raised money and awareness for The Aspen Hopeline (970-925-5858) a 24 hour mental support phone-line.  Click 4 pix: Hockey 4 Hope.

SPELL WHAT?   The first ever full contact spelling bee featuring Aspen Celebs in support of THE ASPEN YOUTH CENTER (AYC).  For 20 years AYC has provided a safe place for thousands of Roaring Fork Valley kids to be a kid.  It's place to connect, learn and grow.   Spell What? was a highly contested, highly public spell off and raised BIG bucks for AYC. Click 4 pix: Spell What?

Yoga Rave with the Aspen Yoga Society. click 4 pix.Inside the huddle with The Mother Puckers at Hockey 4 Hope. click 4 pix.Aspen Ski co. CEO Mike Kaplan and Aspen Mayor, Mick Ireland on the hot seat at Spell What? for the Aspen Youth Center. click for pix.