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.

Del Mar: Where the Surf meets the Turf.

Historic Del Mar RacewayDel Mar  Racetrack is as "cool as ever".  It's where the surf meets the turf.  Opening Day 2011 was nothing short of spectacular as almost 47,000 souls ditched work to spend the day at the races.  Thoroughbred racing has a long and distinguished history in Del Mar, ever since Bing Crosby and his pals opened the track in 1937 and Seabiscuit ran there in 1938.  Known as a playground to the Hollywood luminaries like Ava Gardner, Red Skelton, W.C. Fields, Don Ameche, Dorothy Lamour and others.

Opening Day at Del Mar has become an incredible celebration over the years.  More about the party and the fashion and THE HATS than the actual racing, Del Mar is like the Kentucky Derby for So.Cal.  Check our SURF meets the TURF pix.   Getting to the track on opening day is always a challenge as the crowds of limo's, party buses and regular autos basically funnel into a single lane.  Aspen Spin hoofed it to the track through the back door from about 2 miles away.  Auto traffic was moving at approximately 1 mile per hour as the 2 pm post time approached.

Pre and Post parties in downtown Del Mar were numerous.  Drinking was voluminous and people dressed for success and to impress.  The Hollywood glamour seemed to be limited to the b-list, one of the "real housewives" was there and a couple of NFL QB's; Mark Sanchez and Aaron Rodgers.  We didn't make it to the Turf Club or the Winners Circle, but it was BIG fun in the grandstand.

Check the pix.  SURF meets the TURF.

Unbelievable Hats at Del Mar Opening Day. Click 4 Pix.Magnificent animals at Del Mar. Click for pix.Ladies of Del Mar.