Sons of Aspen head to Sochi.

Aspen always sends it's Olympic athletes off in style.  Gondola Plaza was jammed with well wishers as Aspen bid bon voyage to four Olympians heading to Sochi, Russia for the 2014 Winter Olympics.  For a tiny mountain town, Aspen has an exceptional Olympic history.  No one seems to have the accurate number, but AspenSpin estimates that ZG has sent 30 to 40 athletes with strong ties to past Winter Games. Incredible.  Chris Klug, Gretchen Blieler, Casey Puckett, Andy Mill, Christin Cooper, Chris Devlin-Young and others have honored Aspen by competing at the highest level.

AspenSpin collaborator Joseph Gulizia attended the olympic  festivities Aspen Mountain.   Photos: JOSEPHGPHOTOGRAHY.com 

Click 4 Pix:  Sons of Aspen.

The four Aspen heros for the XXII Olympiad. 2014 in Sochi.

JEREMY ABBOTT                     Figure Skating

SIMI HAMILTON                        Cross County Skiing

NOAH HOFFMAN                     Cross Country Skiing

TORIN YATER-WALLACE      Ski Superpipe

X Games Aspen: Party Down in A-Town

There are an unbelievable number of parties and special events for X Games Aspen. It's impossible to do them all...but Aspen is a Party Town and I am Andy Party. I tried.

I scored enough wrist bands to choke a dinosaur but still, I could not do it all.  I attended all the parties that I was actually invited to and I crashed the ones that I wasn't.  I tried to use everything to my advantage, including years of experience at X Games.   First of all... I'm old enough to be the father of the entire " X Games demographic".  Second of all,  I know where all Aspen's back doors are and I'm friendly with most of the security guards and bouncers.   All this came to a head during the perfect storm that is X Games weekend.  I discovered a new trick this year... it's all about progression and style.   Several times I was stopped at the door, my wrist inspected and my lack of proper credentials exposed...even before they could shoo me away...I smoothly shouted "my kid just won the Gold Medal"...it worked every time.

So here's my party town photo essay from X Games Aspen 2014.

OAKLEY PENTHOUSE PARTY

ESPN PRESS CONFERENCE

FREESKIER / RED BULL PARTY at SKY

SAVOY on AJAX / ISVERA FASHION SHOW at BOOTSY BELLOWS

I-RECREATE HOUSE ( yeah, it's legal)

MONSTER PARTY at the SUNDECK

TIESTO w/ Axwell in WAGNER PARK

Oakley hosted athletes and media at a private penthouse. click for pix.ESPN's press conference at Buttermilk. X Games renewed for 5 more years in Aspen. Click 4 pix.It's a fact. Senders get chicks, especially at the Freeskier / Red Bull Party. Click 4 pix.I-Recreate. A private home, off campus featuring all the recreational weed you could handle. Click 4 pix.Savoy, a free EDM show at the base of Aspen Mountain. Click 4 pix.Monster hosted their annual bash at the Sundeck atop Aspen Mountain. Sh*t got crazy. Click 4 pix.Tiesto performed his EDM magic in Wagner Park. No one OD'd. Click for pix.

X Games Aspen: Money Booters

The final day of competition at X Games Aspen 2014 was so sick.  19 year old Indiana native, Nick Goepper went back to back in men's slop defending his crown.   Kaya Turski topped a stacked field to claim her 4th Gold in Women's slope.  Turski the Canadian Olympian had ACL surgery just 5 months ago and managed to be ready for X Games through hard work and determination.

In the sled sports Tucker Hibbert proved to be un-beatable for the 7th time in a row.  Adaptive rider Mike Schultz took home his fourth Gold in adaptive sno cross.

Danny Davis capped off X Games Aspen, 2014 with a super stylie run in men's snowboard super pipe to grab the Gold.  Davis, originally from Michigan, is stoked to be a U.S. Olympian and to represent the whole FRENDS CREW on top of the X Games podium.

So that's a wrap.  X Games Aspen is in the books for 2014.  We saw 7-peats, 5-peats 4-peats and more unusually...a few first time winners.   The international field provided a preview for the upcoming Olympics in Sochi, Russia and offered a glimpse into the next-gen of riding with some breakout performances from teenage riders who will be ready to dominate for years to come. 

Special thanks to everyone.

Nick Goepper went back-to-back Gold in men's slope. Photo: Christian Pondella ESPN IMAGESKaya Turski nabbed her 4th Gold in women's slope style. Photo: Kaitlyn Egan ESPN IMAGESA 7-peat Gold for Tucker Hibbert in Snowcross. Photo: Matt Morning ESPN IMAGESAdaptive sled head Mike Schultz claimed his 4th Gold. Photo: Matt Morning ESPN IMAGES.Style and amplitude allowed Danny Davis to snatch his first Gold in pipe. Photo: Phil Elsworth ESPN IMAGES

X Games Aspen: Insane Style

Another HUGE day at X Games 2014.   Progression, Amplitude and Style.   The competition just keeps getting more fierce and the tricks keep getting bigger and stylier.

The Gold Medal goes to:

SNOWBOARD SLOPESTYLE:  MAX PARROT (CAN)

SNOWBOARD SLOPESTYLE:  SILJE NORENDAL (NOR)

SNOWMOBILE LONG JUMP:  LEVI LaVALLEE  (USA)

SNOWBOARD SUPERPIPE:     KELLY CLARK  (USA)

SKI BIG AIR:                        HENRIK HARLAUT  (SWE)

Max Parrot took home his second Gold in X Games Aspen 2014in Slope. Photo: Max Morning ESPN IMAGES.Norwegian fox Siljie Norendal broke through for GOLD in slope. Photo: Peter Morning ESPN Images Levi LaVallee grabbedgold in the inaugural Snowmobile long jump contest. Photo: Gabriel Christus ESPN IMAGESKelly Clark the most decorated woman in X Games history added Gold in pipe to her collection. Next gen rider Chloe Kim, 13, took silver. Photo: Peter Morning ESPN IMAGES Ski BIG AIR is one huge progression session. Henrik Harlaut took gold followed by Vincent Gagnier and Kai Mahler. Photo: Christian Pondella ESPN IMAGES

X Games Aspen: The Hardware Collectors

Day two at X Games Aspen 2014 saw P.A.V.  Progression, Amplitude and Variety...that's what the judges want to see.   5 sets of Medals were passed out todayat X Games Aspen. Many familiar faces claimed the Golden hardware.

David Wise completed the 3-peat in Ski Superpipe while Maddie Bowman took her second straight victory on the women's side.  Wise boosted very technical tricks from both sides of the pipe and looks to be the men's favorite for Gold in Sochi. 19 year old Aspen local Alex Ferreira broke through to grab the Bronze. Bowman, from Lake Tahoe bested a very competitive field and will be seeking Gold in Sochi too.   Ski Superpipe makes it's Olympic debut in Sochi.

Max Parrot from Montreal topped a powerful international field in Snowboard Big Air.  He stomped a backside triple 1620 to solidify the win.

In Snowboarder X hard charging Nate Holland pocketed his 7th Gold while super star Lindsey Jacobellis nabbed her 8th Gold,  the most ever by any woman at X Games.   Both Americans will be favorites in Sochi.

It was a huge day at X Games Aspen.   The pix tell the story.

David Wise boosted it to claim his third straight Gold Medal in Ski Superpipe. Photo GabrielChristus ESPN IMAGES

Maddie Bowman took her secons straight Gold in Ski Super Pipe. Photo: Matt Morning ESPN IMAGES Max Parrot (Can) / Yuki Kadono (JPN) / Stale Sandbech (Nor) on the podium for Snowboard Big Air. Photo: Christian Pondella ESPN IMAGES

Nate Holland led the pack to take his 7th Gold in Snowboarder X. Photo: Peter Morning ESPN IMAGES

 Lindsey Jacobellis grabbed her 8th Gold in Snowboarder X. Photo: Peter Morning ESPN IMAGES