The Storm that saved Christmas in Aspen.

The Carmelo-meter has been measuring the POW POW in Aspen for 10 seasons. Today's rating...siiiiiiiiiiickIt's not over yet.  Ski season 2012/13 took a huge turn for the positive Saturday night.

15 inches of beautiful, high quality POW POW dropped itself on Aspen Mountain. It was sort of heavy and wet and wind-blown and kind of weird (see previous post), but it was fresh and natural and "not man-made".  This storm allowed the Silver Queen Gondola to open for top-to-bottom skiing for the first time this season.   All the usual suspects were near the front of the line around 8 a.m. and the pent up demand was apparent.  By 9 a.m. the lift line wound all the way down to Durant Street.

For the record, I'm still freaked out about the climate, but I was thrilled to see the ground on both sides of the Roaring Fork Valley covered with snow.  Because of my climate fears I have become more of a student  of snow quality. While this 15" is much appreciated it's really just a start, a good base if you will.  The ski patrol and mountain operations folks have a HUGE job ahead.   Most people riding the gondy were amazed by the huge cracks and fissures in the snow on the back side of Bell Mountain. "Extremely rare, I've never seen that before" declared one 40 year local on the Gondy.   Snow slides in bounds were visible on Keith's Glen and Dipsy Headwall...highly unusual.  Not much was open due to extreme avalanche issues and/or the big rocks and stumps laying in wait just below the newly fallen snow. It was sunny, cold and gorgeous and it was great to be on top again.

Luckily the entire staff at AspenSpin got our laps in early, as the crowd on the mountain built steadily.   The entire posse of hungry pow hounds was funneled into Copper Bowl where they came face-to-face with a large number of "skier visits" as well as powerful snow guns blasting gravel-like man made POW into their faces.   Visibility was "zero" in some spots.   But it was fun and Winter and hopefully no one got hurt.

Snow porn.While 15" does not a season make, this storm was crucial for Aspen.  The entire City of Aspen breathed a collective sigh of relief with the realization that last night's precipitation was for real.  The locals for the most part depend on tourism for their livelihood, and we realize that if conditions are not primo...the people with their own planes and 2nd  & 3rd homes, the 1%ers,  have a few other options.  They will cancel and spend Christmas elsewhere.  The beautiful people want to be where the action is...whether it's Jackson Hole, or St. Barts or Dubai or where ever.  This is the storm that saved Christmas in Aspen.

So fire up the G, brah.  Book your private lessons.  Alert your chef. Lock in your afternoon massages, but remember to pack your woolies...it's Winter.

Christmas isON in Aspen.

First Tracks on the Mall. Christmas is on. Photo: Jeremy Swanson /ASC

Attitude Adjustment at Altitude. Good to be on top. 15 inches of fresh on Aspen Mountain.The pent up demand was apparent as the Silver Queen Gondola opened for the first time all season.The Stoke Factor was high near the front of the line as evidenced by ski bum Brad Unglert.Is everybody happy??? Pat & Kathy were in the 6th gondola car.First Chair on the Ajax Express (lift 3). Before the crowds. The snow was beautiful.

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.

A nice little Saturday in Aspen

One Night of Queen. Click 4 pix.After 4 legit POW days our entire staff needed a day off from skiing.  A recovery day if you will. The mountain has been skiing the best it's been all year.  Saturday was probably a top 10 day for the season, but Saturday was set to be our day of rest.  We had a nice little Saturday planned.  Home Depot and Bed Bath and Beyond were not on the agenda...a beer bong...maybe?  This is Aspen.

Here's what we came up with for our day off. CLICK 4 PIX: Nice little Saturday

Aspen High School's Boys Basketball team had a great 2012 season. The AHS Skier-dome was the site of the regional final on Saturday, on-the-line was a trip to the State semi's. The AHS Skiers had already won their league crown and their district title and now they would compete for a trip to Fort Collins for a spot in the Colorado Great 8.  Unfortunately, the Skiers dropped a 2 point game to Holy Family (Broomfield) 48-46.  The roundballers had a very successful season, finishing 19-5. The hoopsters played hard and played as a team, but to many missed free throws and early turnovers (the Holy Family defense was swarming) kept the Skiers from the Great 8.  It was an exciting final game and an extremely rewarding season despite the loss.  Congratulations to Coach Steve Ketchum and the whole team, they should hold their heads up high.

Lo and Ro finished the grueling Power of Four mountainering race.The Power of Four.  an extreme mountaineering race which requires reaching the summit of all four of Aspen's ski mountains by hiking on skis. Power of Four is roughly 11,000 feet in vertical ascents, 12,500 ft in descents and more than 25 miles through freezing temperatures and 50 MPH winds.  48 teams competed in the Power of Four.  The Gaston Twins, John and Peter finished first in 5 hours 29 minutes.  The Gastons are physical freaks...but the entire field was composed of some of the fittest and most dedicated athletes in Colorado.  See the race description and official results: Click POWER of FOUR.

We bumped into a group of Disabled Israeli War Vetrans at the base of Ajax.  The soldiers are in Aspen to experience FREEDOM by skiing and riding in the mountains.  Hosted by the Aspen J.C.C. and Challenge Aspen these guys were loving life, and for a few days...living the dream. 

Boyz cookin' Bacon. My childhood friend C.C. Rider invited me to watch the Duke / N.C. game at his killer pad. He was in town from Chicago with his boys trip. "We're cooking dinner after" he texted.  7 guys cooking dinner?? Who knew that one of the guys was a professional chef. Phat Filets and tender Chilean sea bass along with brussles sprouts cooked with plenty of high quality bacon and twice baked potatoes.  It was sooooo siiiiiiiiiiick, a total food orgy.  Thanks C.C....keep up the great work with the fellas.

On tap later, One Night of Queen...a Queen impersonation band.  Gary Mullen and The Works from Scotland have been touring the globe for 10 years doing their Queen show.  Since we never got to see the original Queen with Freddie Mercury...One Night of Queen would flll in the gaps.

A night cap at Casa Tua...and that's all she wrote.

Click 4 Pix:  NICE LITTLE SATURDAY

Late in the 4th quarter. This 3 pointer, had it fallen would won the game for Aspen High. click 4 pixStaffan and Himie were releived to finish the POWER of FOUR. Click 4 pix. Diabled Israeli War Veterans visited Aspen to find FREEDOM on the Mountains. Click 4 pix.The Boys from Chicago can cook....and Aspen Spin is a world class eater.One Night of Queen. If you closed your eyes...it was real. click 4 pix.Late Night at Casa Tua. Clay had it goin' on. Click 4 pix.

Aspen Winternational

The World's fastest women are back in Aspen for World Cup Skiing.

The Races  are on Saturday and Sunday on Aspen Mountain.   We are getting some siiiiiick pix.  Here's a few.  

Point and Shoot from the porch of AspenSpin's HQ. Blogging has it's privledges.Lindsey Vonn at the US Ski Team Press Conference."The Coach" Bob Beattie with U.S. racers Anna Marino, Resi StiegkerAutograph signing is serious biz for 3 year old Lasse, with his Mom Sarah Schleper and pal Julia Mancuso.

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.