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.

5 Best Things About Aspen.

Next Winter will be AspenSpin's 9th ski season in Aspen (6th as a blogger).  It's been a phenomenal run so far, and we are doing everything in our power to get the party body ready to shred in 2011 /12.   Time away in ski hab always provides us with perspective, and while we love the beach too.. we're planning to go HUGE in Aspen, Colorado next Winter. 

The 5 Best Things About Aspen, according to AspenSpin.com

The POWDER : Click to Enlarge.1) THE POWDER: Aspen may not get the most snow (Mammoth) or the best snow (Utah) but we've got it pretty good. Aspen expects about 300+ inches a year and it usually comes in bunches.  As founder of the Aspen Powder Hounds we have our secret spots on Ajax (only a few are actually secret...dat sh*t gets stomped pretty fast).  Aspen has 4 mountains to choose from, excellent and varied terrain and it's uncrowded by de$ign.  It ain't bad, bro.

2) WALKING to WORK:  Many people do not really consider skiing every day and partying every night to be actual "work". At AspenSpin...it's our full-time job.  Scoring a dog-friendly pad within walking distance of " the office" (The Silver Queen Gondola) is never easy and always expensive. Good news. We are locked and loded for 11/12, which some local lawyers would call a "minor miracle".  See you on the Gondy, ooops The Office at Thanksgiving.

The Chicks.3) THE CHICKS: The Ladies of Aspen are awesome, unfortunately there aren't very many of them. After attending every party in Aspen over the past 6 years...and just eye-ballin' it... our estimated ratio, 7-1 boys to girls. 

There are two basic types of Local Aspen Women; the Granolas and the Glitters.  Both types are a handful.  Granolas come from a nice family, they're well educated, (maybe a prep school), decent college, un-hireable major (think Art History or English Lit. or Psych.), athletic, attractive and friendly. They dig the gnar and the gnarly guys that go with it..  They can ride with the boys, but they have their own club too. They look very hot in gore-tex.  Glitters,... well they shop more than they ski and enjoy private jets, designer togs and expensive jewelry.  They are experts at apres' ski and are great at making  reservations. Some are to young to be Cougs, some are to old to be considered, but they always look sparkley.  They aspire to be  trophy wives or at least a "real housewife".

Suffice to say the talent level in Aspen is very high.

Buy 'em all.4) THE RICH GUYS: Everybody's a playa...playa.  There's a lot of BIG money around.  Approximately 5/8 (remember fractions?) of the Forbes 400 has some relationship with Aspen.  Ya mon, everybody from Goldman has a house here.  We've learned to stash some clean socks at the Sundeck just in case somebody throws out a lunch invite to the super-posh Aspen Mountain Club where de-booting is de-rigueur.  Parking spots in town sell for $300,000, real estate trades around $2000 per square foot and the private jets are lined up like a parade.  Doing biz on the Gondola is a way of life.  Money is no object and conspicuous consumption is still alive and well in Aspen. "Feelin' good Todd",.." Lookin' good Lewis".

#winning #roiding5) THE TRUE CRIME:   The Senior Citizen Cocaine Ring, Lance Armstrong and Tyler Hamilton in an alledged dust up, Charlie Sheen (#winning), The Bomb Scare on New Years, the groping yogi....you can't make this sh*t up.  Fraud and embezzlement are the most popular crimes in Aspen.  Our personal favorite is the drunk driving, former Buttermilk ski instructor who led cops on a high-speed auto chase only to roll his porn-filled truck on Owl Creek Rd. (no one was hurt....except the porn collection).  TIA...this is Aspen.  It never gets dull.

So we quote  AAAAHnaaald,  the former Governator of Calif., as well as a tarnished ex- Kennedy, domestic help impregnator and regular Aspen visitor...I'll Be Baaaaaack.  Let's Paaaaaahty.

AspenSpin is still in the game.The 5 Best Things About Aspen, Colorado. Walking to Work is one of them.

The Final Spin

The Final Spin. Aspen Closing DayAnother super-epic ski season in Aspen, Colorado is officially etched in the tablets of time.  2010/11 will go down in the scrolls as a very good year.  While not fantastic (think 07/08), the snow was pretty consistent all year.  We did score plenty of late season POW that had the locals calling for more.  Today, Easter Sunday was Aspen's official closing day.  The Power of Four is shutting it down after 150 days of fun.  Aspen Highlands played host to the now traditional raging party to cap off the season.   Over the past 5 years the Aspen Highlands Rave has become the #1 party in skiing.  You could argue with A-Spin about that--but you would be wrong. 

Click 4 PIX.  THE FINAL SPIN

It been a wild 5 year ride at AspenSpin. BIG fun was experienced.   Everyone has their own definition of "living the dream", but Aspen Spin has been willing to document and share ours on the internet.  A-Spin is the real deal, it's authentic.  You can't fake skiing every day and partying every night. We could bore you with stats, but what for?  After 5 years of pointing, shooting and posting we now measure our hits in the millions.  We've collected more t-shirts, stickers and chapstick than anyone in captivity.  We have the maximum number of facebook friends, we hit every single POW Day and we were the first to tweet in Aspen.  WTF? Who knew.

Everyone is media now.  Anbody with an i-phone thinks they are John Cameron Swayze.   Photos  <click> are now so easy to share <click>.  A-Spin was just a little ahead of the curve.  It's unclear what's next for us.  Another summer in La Jolla for sure.  Next Fall....dunno?  We'll probably be back for more, but we will need DOG-FRIENDLY housing and that always presents a problem.  Aspen landlords are a funky bunch, greed and paranoia about their sh*tty condos from 1965 make them tough to deal with.  Owning a sh*tty condo from 1965?---thats one option, but "no thanks" even at the current "discounted" prices.  Migrating down-valley?? Traffic jams and road rage---thats in our past.  We'll see what shakes out.

Until we meet again, THANK YOU ASPEN for being AWESOME.  Stay that way.  The POW, the PIX and the PEOPLE have made Aspen a great place to be for 8 years (5 with A-Spin).  Aspen is the "Capital of Skiing". The natural beauty, the open space, the bedazzling Rocky Mountains of Colorado combine to make the entire Roaring Fork Valley a special place; to be treasured. 

To all our people, the spinners; have a fantastic Summer....we'll see ya on-line...or off. 

Click 4 Pix.  The Final Spin.

A.Party / OUT

  

 

 

Klaus Obermeyer turns 91.

Klaus Obermeyer turns 91. click 4 more pixDecember 2 is an international holiday for skiers.  Its the birthday of KLAUS OBERMEYER, one of the most influential people in skiing history. Click KLAUS to get a summary of his accomplishments. Klaus Obermeyer was born in Germany in 1919.  He founded his own ski wear company,-- Sport Obermeyer in 1947 in Aspen, Colorado in his attic while he was working as a ski instructor. Klaus developed the first down parka, the first mirrored sunglasses and the first high altitude sun screen  among other innovations. Sport Obermeyer is still known as one of the most important, progressive and powerful brands in snow sports....to this day.

Klaus still skis almost everyd day.  His technique is smooth and fast, in fact ---it's doubtful that you can keep up.  His distinctive Yodel is famous throughout the world. 

Klaus is more than just a ski-wear trend setter--he's "the greatest guy in skiing".   He's affable, gregarious, funny and super popular with the ladies.  His energy and love for the mountains is contagious.  He's quick with a quip and his 5000 watt smile lights up every room he enters.  At 91, Klaus is still getting after it ----every day --on the mountain and off.  His 91st birthday was a cause celbre at the venerable Wienerstube restaurant in Aspen.  4 generations of family and friends gathered to wish Klaus a Happy Birthday and share a delicious apple strudel warm from the oven.   When he bit into his birthday pastry, the SRO crowd cheered.  Klaus looked up, shrugged and laughed and said " i'm really gonna have to brush my tooth more often", and he immediately began his trademark Yodel.   The crowd went wild.   

SEE PIX --click  KLAUS at 91.

Living Legend Klaus Obermeyer turns 91. click 4 pix