World Cup Weekend is World Class in Aspen

After a years hiatus, the FIS World Cup Ski races returned to Aspen.  Fat city again hosted the world's fastest women in the Slalom and Giant Slalom.  The best ski racers in the world ripped laps on Aspen Mountain returning to one of their favorite tour stops.

Aspen missed the world's fastest women, a.k.a. chicks on sticks last year...and it turns out the feeling was mutual.  All the ladies made it very clear that Aspen is a highlight stop on their World Cup tour.  For the U.S. Ski Team and several American girls who are funded independently it's the only tour stop on U.S. soil and the only time their friends and families attend their races.  The Euros all commented on the special feeling they have for Aspen Mountain and it's fast, highly technical race course.  Aspen hosted Giant Slalom on Saturday and Slalom on Sunday.

Click 4 pix: WORLD CLASS in ASPEN

Conditions were prime, maybe a touch warm...but the course was skiing great.  Saturday's Giant Slalom challenged the ladies with plenty of technical terrain changes and the famous airplane turn above strawpile. Sunday's slalom competition was broadcast live worldwide on NBC TV.  

The strong Austrian team dominated the results taking 4 of the 6 podium spots including both first place finishes. Eva-Marie Brem broke through for her first WC win ever, topping the field in the GS.  She was quite emotional, crying during the awards ceremony and the press conference.  All the other girls seemed truly happy for her.  "We're all friends" shared one Canadian racer.  Katrin Zettel, also Austrian finished second.   She always finds a way to the podium in Aspen, holding the record for most top 3 results of any world cup skier on Aspen Mountain.  

Nicole Hosp from Austria topped a very competitive field in Slalom. It was Hosp's first win since 2008 after overcoming a series of excruciating injuries.    USA's Mikaela Shiffrin had a great weekend with a 6th in the GS and 5th in Slalom.   2 top 10's was cause for celebration 2 years ago in Aspen for Shiffrin.   This year, however, the expectations are about as high as they can be for the Queen apparent of U.S. Skiing.   Shiffrin is the reining WC champ and Olympic champ in Slalom...so she is now expected to win...every time.   She had a good chance to take the slalom victory..but a slight falter on run 2 led to 5th.  While disappointed at not taking the top spot on home soil...Shiffrin is poised and ready to move on to the next race.   She is currently in 2nd place in the overall World Cup standings behind Zettel. 

All-in-all it was a great weekend.  Aspen Mountain and Snowmass  are open and skiing beautifully.  A kick-off party to celebrate the bib draw along with an autograph signing with the U.S. Ski Team started it all off on Friday   Reel Big Fish a ska-punk band from Huntington Beach, Ca. played a free outdoor show at the base of Aspen Mountain followed by the prerequisite fireworks display. A full-on sponsors village anchored by Audi, plus free food from Aspen Skiing Company's catering department made those of us who are not VIP's feel like VIP's.  The stands were packed on both days.  The crowds were the largest I've seen in my 12 years attending the races in Aspen.  Perfect weather for spectating did not hurt.  The WC set up seemed to have it turned up a notch...perhaps in preparation for Aspen's hosting of the WC Finals in March of 2017.  

It was good to have the "White Circus" back in Aspen.

Click 4 pix:  WORLD CLASS in ASPEN

GS winner Eva-Marie Brem of Austria ripping a lap on Ajax. Photo: Art BurrowsMikaela Shiffrin had 2 top 10's in Aspen, not bad, but she is expected to win every week now. Photo: Art Burrows.

The GS Podium in Aspen 1) Brem Austria 2) Zettel Austria 3) Brignone Italy Photo: AspenSpin

The Slalom Podium in Aspen. 1) Hosp Austria 2) Hansdotter Sweden 3) Zettel Austria Photo: AspenSpin

Happy Thanksgiving from AspenSpin.

What are you thankful for?

Aspen T.R.E.E. Community Thanksgiving Dinner (& Warren Miller).

The Chefs were cooking at Aspen T.R.E.E.For the 7th year in a row, Aspen T.R.E.E. presented their FREE Community Thanksgiving Dinner.  Once again it was a plentiful feast enjoyed by all.  About 700 diners rolled through the Aspen High School cafeteria to a enjoy a full-on farm-to-table  FREE Thanksgiving Dinner.

 Click Aspen T.R.E.E. to learn more about all their good work and their push for a sustainable future.

The cooking, the serving, the cleaning, it's all done by volunteers.  The free community dinner is one of my favorite events of the season.   It's a true cross-section of Aspen's populace. From the bro-brah ski bums to the senior citizen brigade to young families with tons of kids...everybody showed up for the tasty, locally produced chow.   Even a few billionaires couldn't resist a FREE Community Thanksgiving. As always, the spirit and camaraderie at Aspen T.R.E.E. was fun and exciting.

A. Party got right in there, serving meals, bussing tables and greeting guests.  We almost forgot to take some sick pix...but we didn't.  

Click: Aspen T.R.E.E. (& Warren Miller) to see the best ones.

Later that night...

Lane, Casey and Tats passing out swag at Warren Miller.For the 65th year in a row Warren Miller presented his annual ski flick at The Wheeler Opera House.  A packed house showed up on a cold & snowy night (thats how we love it) to revel in the ski porn of No Turning Back.   As always the footage, the scenery, the athletes and the shredding was phenomenal.  But the buzz in the crowd was even better.   Many of us here in Aspen have already been ripping on Ajax all week...so there were a lot of stiff legs climbing the stairs at The Wheeler.   Hosted by one of Aspen's favorite ski bums Lane Johnson along with his able assistants and fellow POW chasers Chris Tatsuno and Casey Vandenbroek, No Turning Back resulted in a near riot.  Well not really...but the crowd was pretty rowdy.  Spurred on by the 3 headed emcees...the Wheeler turned into a full on dance party.  One thing is certain...everybody was praying for POW.

Click for pix.  Aspen T.R.E.E. (& Warren Miller).

The hostesses at Aspen T.R.E.E.. Service with a smile for 700 people.It's always a blast at the Aspen T.R.E.E. free Thanksgiving Dinner.The Wheeler exploded in a full-on dance party at Warren Miller's ski film No Turning Back

Charge it; It's Aspen.

Breakfast with Jonny. First in line at 6.10 AM Opening weekend on Aspen Mountain has come and gone.   The skiing was pretty darn good...limited terrain was open.   Saturday's line at the Gondola started at a reputed 6.10 AM.   Veteran liftie Jonathon Ayalon claimed the first spot and cooked tasty breakfast sandos for anyone who wanted one.   A.Party was late to the party...by 8 AM there was at least 50 die-hards in line.  It was a beautiful bluebird Saturday and top to bottom laps were plentiful.  In fact...I personally did too many laps...because I was pretty tired and sore.

Good thing I went to bed early.

Like  ASPENSPIN for more pix. 

Mikey: He likes it!!! Opening Day 2014/15Sunday begat a whole new mindset.  It was a POW Day. Cold, windy, snowy and foggy conditions and 6" of freshies (generous measure)  made for an immediate scramble for first tracks.  There was also a line on Day #2...but it was much shorter and people were seriously ready to shred.  Day #1 was a warm up...today was the real thing. Visibility in some areas was almost zero...but the POW was cold, soft and light.  Flotation turns were there for the taking.  Many people were slashing, myself included. 

Now I'm laying on the couch, too tired to move, watching football and reading the Sunday NY Times (hard copy).  It's good to be back on the sticks...and the forecast is for more snow.

It'll be another early night for AspenSpin.

Welcome to ski season 2014/15.

BONUS!! Aspen Mountain to Open Early

As we predicted Aspen Skiing Company (ASC) has officially announced that Aspen Mountain will be open for skiing and riding 5 days early.  In the press release David Perry COO of ASC remarked "We are a ski town, we have the snow and we are pleased to start spinning the lifts."    The new opening day for Aspen Mountain is;

SATURDAY NOVEMBER 22.   Be There!!!

Photo: Courtesy of Aspen Skiing Company