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.

Global Freezing: WinterSkol in Aspen.

Winterskol: Having Fun since 1951.Dude, I like it cold... but this is ridiculous.   It's been sub-zero atop Aspen Mountain and in town for three days straight. WinterSkol and beautiful sunny Colorado skies could not off-set the fact that it's freezing. A. Party is not complaining...I'm "all in for GLOBAL FREEZING".   Actually the cold invigorates me. I'm happy its frigid.  I'm a HUGE fan of Winter.  Lack of freshies has made me crazy...so I sort of like getting a brain-freeze, while flying down the super-duper hard packed slopes of Ajax.  Mid January in Aspen means WINTERSKOL our annual celebration of Winter.  "Getting it done since 1951"  Aspen's Winterskol began as a ploy to attract more tourists to Aspen during the dog days ... the post-holiday lull... and it's always freezing.  That fierce, penetrating cold that only people who love Winter like. Canine Fashion Show. Click 4 pix.

Click 4 pix.  GLOBAL FREEZING.

WinterSkol has evolved into a HUGE weekend, complete with SoupSkol, a canine fashion show, spa treatments, yoga, concerts, ski races free beer and a full on swag fest thanks to Women's Health and Men's Health Magazines.  As always the "freebie tent" at the base of Ajax is FREE & Open to the public.  Grab a bag full of swag...why not?  Food, beer, air hockey, models, tons of free stuff etc..etc.    The dogs came out in the sub zero temps for the annual canine fashion show.  Free hot dogs and kettle corn and about 40 dogs dressed to impress greeted the crowds. Always a  blast.

Everybody love SoupSkol. Click 4 pix.SoupSkol... is always an extremely popular event. It was extra special this year due to the Global Freezing. Honestly, when its less than  zero degrees...there's nothing better than 50 sample sized cups of fresh, steaming hot soup.  This year's Winner:The SQUARE GROUPER is not even open yet.  My boyiee Michael Goldman (co-owner) will be debuting Square Grouper this spring on restaurant row in Aspen.  Congratulations to Square Grouper, wininng SoupSkol a tremendous accomplishment.  Can't wait until spring.

The Spazmatics never disappoint at Belly Up, Aspen.  The nerd-rock cover band plays all the hits from the 80's.  Two hours of solid gold.  The ladies liked it.  Free Beer is always appreciated in Aspen.  Many thanks to Bud & Bud Light.

Next up:  Gay Ski Week. Oh yeah...i'm up for the cover (see photo below).  Aspen...it's a trip that never end's.

Click 4 Pix:  Global FreezingSpa treatments and lots of freebies in the Women's & Men's Health Tent. Click 4 pixThe Spazmatics at Belly Up, Aspen. Click 4 pix.

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Best in Show: Queen Victoria w/ her master Gemma. Click for pix.

 Andy Party vying for the cover of Men's Health. Click 4 pix. Photo: Exposed Aspen

Mad Hatter's Ball

The 3 finalists at The Mad Hatter's BallAs part of the Winterskol 2013 festivities, The Aspen Historical Society resurrected an Aspen tradition from the 70's...The Mad Hatter's Ball. The Mad Hatter's Ball is part competition, part fashion show, part rock show and entirely fun. 

Click 4 pix:  MAD HATTER's BALL

Earlier in the evening, The Aspen Freshman Class matriculated at the Aspen State Teachers College enduring the required class... ASPEN HISTORY 101.  Dr. Slats Cabbage and the gang from Aspen State kept the lecture fun and everyone who attended got a free beer.  The upper-classmen started to roll in later for the first renewal of the MAD HATTER'S BAll.  It was an impressive showing for sure to be annual modern-day incarnation of the festive celebration of self-expressionism.  It's pretty obvious that Aspenites enjoy any reason to dress up in costume...and they will do it at the drop of a hat.  In this case...the hats were the thing.  Over 100 Mad Hatter contestants lined up on stage at The Wheeler Opera House to compete in the "best hat" competition.  The hats were incredible, extremely diverse...and many were quite amazing.  It game down to the final 3.  The Bird Cage, the Gator, and the eventual winner...The Bell Mountain Bonnet (built to scale).  It was a fantastic show of head gear.  The contest was followed by a full on jam session from Aspen's favorite local band Jes Grew.  It was great to see The Wheeler Opera House rocking in the aisle.

CLICK 4 PIX: MAD HATTER's BALL

The Snowball at Mad Hatter's Ball. Click 4 pix.Hats, Hats, Hats. Click for pix.3 girls for every guy at Mad Hatter's Ball for Winterskol in Aspen. Click 4 pix.Jes Grew ...backstage at The Mad Hatter's Ball. Click 4 pix.Jam Session at Mad Hatter's Ball. Click 4 pix.

Not your Daddy's BOOMBOX.

BoomBox in Aspen. A great show. Click 4 pix.BoomBox the electronic-funk-rock, EDM duo stormed into Aspen last night to play a SOLD OUT show at Belly Up, Aspen.  Russ Randolph and Zion Rock Godchaux laid down their potent mixture of electronic programming and live instrumentation in Aspen as part of their nationwide Winter tour.  

Click for pix. BoomBox

The dance floor was the show as BoomBox wove their brand of psychedelic & funky house sounds around their signature backbeat causing the intimate building to come alive.  "It's all natural and it's all real time and that's why it's rock and roll" said Godchaux.  BoomBox mixes drums, keys, guitar and bass with electronic beats to create an organic and unique live experience.   BoomBox admitted that they try to go into each show with no game plan and feed off the energy of the crowd. "We're down to get down...and we hope that people are down with us" shared Randolph.

Honestly, AspenSpin  had no pre-conceived notion about BoomBox before the show. We weren't sure what to expect, but once the beats started to flow and the dance floor erupted in motion...we dug it..a lot.  BoomBox's set was almost like one long song...a single continuous jam...and the audience loved it.  As we learned during the recent Aspen Live Music Conference...Electronic Dance Music or EDM is currently in the sweet spot of the music business...and BoomBox is right there.   The demand for tickets outside the venue was very high as the show was sold out.  Inside the drinks and other extra curriculars were flowing.  The audience was young, excited, and in constant motion.   The smooth sounds of BoomBox and the freaky light show helped create a festival-like atmosphere in the small (capacity 450) club. Despite sub-zero temps outside...it was hot and sweaty inside for BoomBox.  The dance floor was mobbed with pretty young things and the boys who want to be with them. 

The BoomBox show in Aspen was a multi-sensory experience enjoyed by all in attendance.   "The room was definitely groovin" said A-Spin's Andy Party.  It was a long day and a long night, but we're sooooo glad we didn't miss BoomBox.  If BoomBox comes to your town...don't hesitate...get a ticket.  BoomBox is hot and getting hotter.  In fact they are playing 2 nights in Denver at the Ogden Theatre (Jaunary 4 & 5)...we're thinkin' about rolling down the hill to get some more BoomBox.

Click 4 pix:  BoomBox

The audience was a HUGE part of the show. BoomBox in Aspen. click 4 pix.We could feel the enrgy in the house. BoomBox in Aspen. Click 4 pix.Lots of pretty young things..and the boys who want them. BoomBox in Aspen. Click 4 pix.BoomBox and their funcky psychedelia crushed it in Aspen. Click 4 pix.

BoomBox @ Belly Up Aspen, Tonight. 1/3/13