Surf or Turf

Decision Time.  Surf or Turf?

Putting the A$$ back in Aspen.... by Honey

Honey and her Pole Cats train and perform throughout the Roaring Fork Valley.  Honey (a.k.a. Holly Miely) contributed this story to AspenSpin , it appears unedited. Honey is shown in action in the photos below. She can be contacted at 970-274-1564 or poledance@comcast.net

Who knew fitness could be so sexy??  By now most people have either seen it, heard about it or tried it; Pole Dancing. Pole Dancing has made a major movement into the fitness world and is an amazing display or beauty, strength and grace, not to mention a killer workout!

Pole dancing requires the strength and flexibility of a gymnast and the grace of a dancer. A typical class will begin with a dancer warm-up followed by deep stretching and then pole tricks, spins, lifts, inversions, holds and dance. Pole dancing is inherently motivating as each class you learn something new and the desire to learn more advanced tricks will keep you coming back. Unlike lifting weights or traditional workouts, you walk away from a class with a new skill. In addition, you use your own body weight to build amazing upper body, core and lower body muscles in a functional way. Believe me lifting yourself upside down with grace and fluidity is not easy!

Pole dancing is also an amazing confidence booster. Women (and men!) of all ages, sizes and backgrounds attend  classes and all report a feeling of sexiness and confidence they carry into their daily lives.

Honey has taken things a step further by doing public pole dance performances around Colorado and even into California. She considers her performances to be a mix of “Cirque Du Soleil meets Pussycat Dolls.” It is performance art at its sexiest!  Honey reports that most on lookers are always wowed by the athleticism and strength she displays with grace and beauty. Honey performs in solo performances as well as with a dance troupe she put together under the name “Honey’s PoleCat Revue” which is an entire show including 6 pole dancers, belly dancers and fire dancers.

Snow Flurries in Aspen...(in August).

Everybody in Aspen knows about the photographic genuis of Jeremy Swanson.  He's the top snapper in a town loaded with talented pro shooters.  Swanson's images have graced AspenSpin's pages before as he often shares his beautiful wintery shots with us.....during ski season.   Our tweet deck blew up last week when Swanson's photos hit the web.  SNOW flurries in ASPEN... in August?

C'mon son---really?

Thaz right A-Spin fans.  It's that time of year again.  Break out the fleece. Its snowing in the Aspen high country, squats and lunges should be part of your daily routine, and ski passes are now on sale.

Thanks to Jeremy Swanson for sharing his beautiful work, and making us homesick.

Also thanks to Adam Jones for his siiiiiiiiiick Photo below.

First flurries in the Aspen High Country. Photo: Jeremy Swanson

Maroon Bells reflect the beauty. August 2010. Photo: Adam Jones

Action Sports = ASR

Smile, pass it on. click 4 pix.AspenSpin knows what you'll be wearing in 2011 .....and we likeeeee.

We crushed it at ASR (Action Sports Retailers) in San Diego and got a glimpse of next years action sports fashions and equipment.  We got the break down on board shorts, the skinny on skate shoes and the 411 on hard goods.  ASR is an industry trade show that unites over 750 Action Sports brands together with the retailers who sell them.  Huge established lifestyle resources network alongside emerging start-ups vying to make their mark.  The retailers are able to preview collections and do their buying for next year.  ASR is really 4 shows in one, ASR (lifestyle clothing), Crossroads (skate), Sacred Craft (surf) and Class @ ASR (boutique lines). 

Everybody was playing show and tell at ASR, and AspenSpin loved the action,  the free stuff and models, models and more models. 

Click the pix    ASR = Action   and   STICKERS, CAPS and TEEs .

A-Spin's observations;

* The Sky is not falling (like last year).  The crowd was upbeat and optimistic.

* Bright colors and bold patterns will carry the day in 2011.

* Nike, a huge player and their subsidiary Hurley skipped ASR.

* Skate/Surf brands are becoming much more business savvy... out of necessity... given today's difficult economic environment and competition from "vertical" retailers. You need a biz plan brah.

*Moto is a huge emerging market segment, eg: Fox and Metal Mulisha

* Head phones are the new sunglasses-- super hot accessory item.

* The ultimate buyers of action sports merchandise have surprisingly high demographics.

* Lots of emerging brands are trying to appeal to today's dis-enfranchised youth.  Black palettes, Skulls and Tattoo inspired designs and tons of trucker hats.

STUFF we LIKED

ONEILL:  Hyperfreak Board Shorts are the best, they are the pace setters.

SANUK:  They're not shoes, they're sandals, and they are super comfy.

CONTOUR: Wearable HD Camcorders  1080p.  Super-slick, easy to use, light, durable.

DEUCE BRAND:  Sport Watches.  Look good, play good.

INDO BOARD:  Great training tool for balance, strength and fitness.

FOX: Well known in the moto world, new to us. Hottest models.

VANS:  So California.

MOVEMBER:  Promoting men's heath world wide.

Click the pix they say it all    ASR = Action   and STICKERs, CAPS, and TEEs.

Tarp Surfing at ASR. click for pix.

The Boogie Fever

Boogie boarding with World Champ Jeff HubbardWhat's the best part of being a blogger?  People assume its all the cash,or the excessive swag or the hottest chicks in captivity. Naaaaaa, AspenSpin thrives on new experiences, and one of the best was a recent boogie boarding session in Oceanside (North Jetty) with World Champion Body Boarder JEFF HUBBARD.  Hubb designs and rides for BZ, a subsidiary of WHAM O.  Thaz right-- A-Spin is networking with the people who own, Hula Hoop, Frizbee, Slip and Slide, Hackey Sack and more.

After Shot. Getting wet is always fun.Hubbard allowed AspenSpin to tag along for a practice sesh in the mild surf in N. County. Click the vid below to see highlights.  It was one of the sweetest ,bightest & clearest mornings we've experienced during our stay in So.Cal (2010, the gloomiest summer in San Diego History).  Despite the marine layer that doesn't want to go away--- SD is still awesome.  We had North Jetty to ourselves until a pack of local surfers saw Hubb throwing 360's and rolls in the mild 2-3 foot , well shaped waves at North Jetty.   We were soon joined in the line-up by a few territorial local surfer dudes watching every wave and every move we made.  Hubbard , the biggest name in boogie and A-Spin kept gripping and ripping despite the gawkers.  Riding waves with the World Champ goes down in history as a good, good time. Proud to be a sponger.

JEFF HUBBARD IN ACTION.