Wiley Maple wins Nor Am Downhill in Aspen.

Aspen local, AVSC Alum and current member of the U.S. Ski Team won the Nor Am Downhill on Ajax for the second year in a row.  Wiley is well known in Aspen as the fastest skier on Aspen Mountain.  He proved it again topping the podium in his home town...just like last year.  

Wiley had a good year on the World Cup circuit.  You can help him compete.

Click: WILEY

National Champs from Aspen

Two local AVSC and U.S. Ski Team racers took home top honors at the U.S. National Alpine Skiing Championships at Sugarloaf,Maine.

Fan favorite Wiley Maple ripped the fastest lap in Men's Downhill lap topping a stacked field to grab the GOLD. He also finished 5th in Super G.   Glenwood's Alice McKennis shredded to victory in the Ladies Super G securing the highest tier on the podium.

Congratulations to both Wiley and Alice who have worked extremely hard and battled through injuries.  The fruits of victory must feel especially sweet to ASPEN's NATIONAL CHAMPS. 

Wiley Maple National Champ Photo: Scott Sanford via FB.

 Alice McKennis National Champ Super G. Photo: Jamie Walters / Sugarloaf

The Way of the Shred.

Aspen is a small town with a BIG heart.  Last weekend's early opening was fantastic.  This Saturday's official kick off to the season was the real deal.  The snow base on Aspen Mountain is equivalent to mid-February last year.  The Aspen Mountain ski patrol got busy and opened plenty of new terrain including Bell Mountain and The Glades.  Bro-brahs were straight-lining the Ridge of Bell without fear.  Coverage was good.  The best part...no one was around.  Apparently the opening at  Snowmass drew big crowds.  But Ajax had the goods...and those goods got got.

Click 4 pix: THE WAY of the SHRED

AspenSpin...known for skiing everyday and partying every night managed to squeeze in a couple social events too.  

Muralist, Kate Howe unveiled her latest mixed media creation at Aspen Highlands.  Her beautiful work entitled Almost Time to Ski now permanently adorns the wall of Aspen Highlands locker room.  She's already working on her next piece at Cloud 9 Restaurant on the mountain at Aspen Highlands.  Kate's art along with her expert ski pro-ing, massage and yoga keeps her plenty busy.  Commission her now.

Aspen's native son and U.S. Ski Team member and Olympic hopeful ski racer, Wiley Maple threw himself a fundraiser at Belly Up. Family, freinds, plenty of silent auction items and a screening of Winter, the newest ski porn from The Ski Channel were on the docket.  Unfortunately, Wiley got a bit of bad news yesterday about his troublesome knee.  The Orthopedic Doc's have shut him down for the season.  Heel up soon Wiley.

So it was a great weekend in Aspen.  A super kick-off to hopefully a POW filled season.  We'll see you out on the mountain.

Click for pix.  THE WAY of the SHRED.

Wiley Maple: Aspen's World Class Ski Racer

Wiley Maple, Aspen's World Cup racer. CourtesyPhoto: US Ski Team.Wiley Maple was born and raised in Aspen, Colorado.  He's the son of a skiing family.  Wiley is now a 22 year old world class ski racer who came up through the ranks chasing gates with AVSC.  As a grom he landed on the podium more often than not.

Wiley Maple now races against the world's best competition on the FIS World Cup circuit,  the major leagues of ski racing.   He scored his first World Cup points last season...and this Winter he's back for more as a member of the U.S. Ski Team.  Wiley is currently prepping for the upcoming World Cup season after overcoming a complicated knee surgery and the corresponding summer-long re-hab.  Wiley trained extremely hard all Summer according to our sources at Park City's Center for Excellence, where the U.S. Ski Team trains.  He is currently ripping laps on the snow at the U.S. Ski Team's Speed Center at Copper Mountain.

Wiley's Boyz came out to support him. Click 4 pix.Last night the whole town of Aspen came out to support Wiley with a fund-raiser at the Wheeler Opera House. It's an expensive proposition to be a ski racer.  Travel costs alone are a small fortune.  Mike Marolt and Montezuma Basin productions helped roll out the red carpet with a siiiiiiiick silent auction and the showing of the cultier than cult film...Deep Winter. 

Click: Wiley 4 more pix

It's not to late to do Wiley a solid.   Wiley needs to raise $22,000 for expenses not covered by the U.S. Ski Team.   He'll be heading to Europe soon,  so  c'mon skiers, Aspenites, all 1% ers, 47 %ers....everybody.  Let's help Wiley realise his full potential.  Click the link to Wiley Maple's Pay Pal  account and give generously.

 WILEY MAPLE's WORLD CUP Page.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Ed Cross and Richard Allen are Aspen veterans who came out to support Wiley Maple. Click 4 Pix.

Aunt Marlene's decadent Marvelous Hot Fudge was a HUGE seller. Click 4 pix.These groms came out to support their home town hero. Click 4 pix.