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December 29, 2005
Aspen Groups
Aspen Groups is the town of Aspen's official organization for group bookings and events. If you are planning a wedding or you are just looking for a meeting room with a view, then Aspen Groups is your one-stop for all inclusive group planning. Aspen Groups can help your group with discounted air fare, lodging, conference rooms, catering, any local activities or events and more. A group consists of 10 or more sleeping rooms, 20 or more people, any corporate group, or incentive event requiring travel assistance coming to our beautiful Colorado destination. Learn how Aspen Groups can make your group stay seamless and enjoyable by requesting a proposal at www.aspen-groups.com.
Posted by at 02:46 PM | Comments (0)
December 27, 2005
Ajax Gondolas add to Aspen Memorabilia
After this year's ski season, Aspen Mountain will be replacing the 18 year old Silver Queen gondola cars with shiny, rommier models. If you tend to reminisce on the "good ol' days" in Aspen, you can keep a piece of the past by purchasing a gondola cabin for $550. You better hurry though, there have been a number of inquiries and many wish to purchase the cars so they have a tangible "piece of Aspen." They could also make wonderful Christmas gifts for 2006. Learn more at www.aspensnowmass.com.
Posted by at 11:18 AM | Comments (0)
December 20, 2005
Lots of Snow for Christmas Weekend
The snow has been falling intermittently for the past week in Aspen and Snowmass, making for ideal skiing conditions for the holiday weekend. Over 4,000 acres of skiing and riding is now open between Snowmass, Aspen Mountain, Aspen Highlands and Buttermilk - which means plenty of snow and terrain to be enjoyed by all! As you gear up for the holidays, check out Stay Aspen Snowmass for last-minute lodging deals, and vacation packages including ski tickets, activities and events. Aspen and Snowmass always have something to offer including anything from a "free ride" zip line to fine dining, outdoor concerts, dog sledding and more.
Posted by at 02:50 PM | Comments (0)
December 16, 2005
Road to the Olympics Begins in Aspen
With the Winter Olympics fast approaching, everyone at the Aspen Valley Ski and Snowboard Club is hopeful that the Americans can dislodge the Austrians and Swiss at the top of the podium. AVSC is a non-profit organization providing ski and snowboard programs to over 1,700 children and teens in the Roaring Fork Valley.
Our mission is to engage and excel - in other words, get kids hooked on winter sports and give them the training and support to fulfill their aspirations no matter what they are. Our top-tier athletes compete against other winter sports clubs with the ultimate goal of joining the U.S. National team. Once there, athletes take on the best in the world on the World Cup circuit and in the Olympics.
For those who tune in to the Winter Games and wonder where these athletes come from, they come from Clubs like ours and ski academies across the country. We were thrilled to have a current AVSC snowboarder, 16-year old Jordan Karlinski, qualify for the U.S. Snowboard Team this year. Jordie competes in Boardercross and is a hard-charging, fearless competitor. While she probably won't make the cut for the Olympics, she finished 3rd in the Gravity Games last year and keep your eye on her when the X-Games roll into town this January. You can read more about her here.
AVSC freestyle moguls skier Glenn Engelman has been making some waves as well. Engleman finished in a tie for 5th overall at the U.S. National Championships last year and recently made the cut to compete in Nor-Ams for the rest of the season. As his coach and AVSC Freestyle Program Director Eric Knight puts it, "He's now at the level below World Cup. It's the top group looking to make the U.S. Freestyle Team." For more on Glenn and teammate and AVSC's top female mogul skier Rachel Weitzenkorn, click here.
I'll have more news from the Club including our upcoming Go for the Gold Gala Event at the top of Aspen Mountain coming soon. For those of you coming to Aspen over the holidays, the conditions are great and the town is alive with activity! Happy Holidays to everyone!
Posted by at 02:45 PM | Comments (0)
December 13, 2005
Check out Apres-Skiing in Snowmass Village
Snowmass Mall Music Series
The Snowmass Village Mall steps up the apres-ski action this season with live music concerts on the mall from 2-5 pm. Grab a drink from the Stewpot's new outdoor bar, a table under a heat lamp to keep you toasty warm, and mellow out to the fantastic tunes of local and regional bands most Thursdays through Sundays. Additional bands play weekly throughout the season. Check www.aspencalendars.comfor a schedule.
When: Most Thursdays through Sundays
Time: 2-5pm
Where: In front of the Stewpot on the Snowmass Village Mall
Posted by at 11:53 AM | Comments (0)
December 12, 2005
New Terrain and Fresh Snow During the Opening Day at Highlands
The much anticipated opening day at Aspen Highlands has come and gone. This past Saturday, Highlands opened lifts to the public, including the new Deep Temerity Lift, which serves over a 100 acres of new terrain. After 40" of fresh snow, there was a variety of fresh tracks to be had. The weather was warm, the sun was shining and skiers on the mountain could not have asked for a better day to enjoy over two feet of untouched snow. The new terrain and lift make for a less crowded mountain and opens up new adventures for skiers who have been enjoying the mountain for years. Check out how you can experience the new Deep Temerity Lift at Aspen Highlands by going to www.stayaspensnowmass.com.
Posted by at 11:51 AM | Comments (0)
December 09, 2005
The Power of Four Resumes on Saturday
This weekend, Buttermilk Mountain and Highlands will open. With the opening of these two mountains, the Power of Four will be completed. Starting this Saturday, you will be able to ski any of the four mountains by purchasing just one lift ticket. Due to great early season snow, Snowmass and Aspen will continue to open untracked terrain while Highlands will have a mountain full of fresh powder to share with the public. Buttermilk will open its famous terrain park for those who wish to practice their skills on the half pipe and rails. Check out how you can join in on the "Power of Four."
Posted by at 09:34 AM | Comments (0)
December 07, 2005
Aspen / Snowmass Mountain Update
SNOWMASS
What more can be said about one of the deepest season starts at Snowmass? Happily, the ropes on terrain keep dropping. Campground, the run AND the chair will open. Slot will be groomed from the top of Sam's Knob all the way down. Alpine Springs and High Alpine chairs will open up all the runs on the middle of Snowmass. Selected runs in the Wall will open (yes, the Wall and it is only December 10th). Adams Avenue will open to provide a link back to Fanny Hill. High Alpine restaurant will open on Saturday as well.
The Upper Scooper terrain park has five hits: a double barrel, a step down and three wide fun boxes. All of these hits are in the beginner and intermediate ability range, perfect for touching the first metal of the season. Plus, you can run laps using the mid-station on the Village Express.
As mentioned previously, the snowmakers and groomers deserve our worship...with the help of Mother Nature, they continue to work tirelessly to create nothing short of perfect conditions.
BUTTERMILK
Look for a soft opening this Friday with close to 90% of the terrain primed for your enjoyment. All chairs will be in operation: Summit, West Buttermilk Express, Tiehack and Panda Peak.
S3 park will return to the bottom of West with a double line of hits including a new fat rainbow box, some fun boxes, several rails and two small jumps. Look for Gretchen Bleiler in the mini pipe on Panda Peak. West is buffed and will provide the best beginner terrain in the state...guaranteed. Get ready--Buttermilk's Superpipe is scheduled to be cut December 16.
ASPEN HIGHLANDS
Ron Chauner's crew has protected the powder on Highlands like the national treasure it is. This Saturday, Aspen Highlands will open with Exhibition, Cloud 9, Loge and Deep Temerity lifts. All mid-mountain terrain will open, most of Steeplechase, Oly Bowl, No Name and Deception. Several runs in Deep T will also challenge expert skiers: Kesslers, Sodbuster, Garmisch, I-70 and St. Moritz. Highland Bowl will NOT be open...as far as I know.
That said, Merry Go Round, Cloud 9 and the Soup Bowl will all open. Hordes of powder crazed locals (that's you) will be lined up early, and with good reason. Conditions are nothing short of amazing but that's no reason to avoid common sense. Stay aware and in control and most of all have fun.
ASPEN MOUNTAIN
Aspen Mountain continues to push terrain opening and prepare a World Cup course. Kudos to all crew and volunteers - everything looks great! The Dumps opened yesterday with incredible turns in Bear Paw and beyond. Slalom Hill opened today and by Saturday you'll see wide open access to Upper Magnifico, Corkscrew, the Dumps wall to wall and the Goat Road back from the World Cup Course. All lifts are running, however the Shadow Mountain Chair is for race crew only. Uphill traffic is prohibited while the World Cup races are being held.
If you're into numbers, four mountains, three feet of new snow and 2,718 acres of terrain = some of the best conditions on the planet!
See you on the four mountains!
Posted by at 11:16 AM | Comments (0)
December 06, 2005
Women's World Cup Comes to Aspen
This weekend, Dec. 9-11, the world's fastest women will compete for three days in Aspen for a chance at a gold medal in the Women's World Cup competition. Featuring such events as the Giant Slalom, Super-G and Slalom, the women will try to garner international notoriety before heading off to the "World Games" in Italy in February. To accompany the entertainment and suspense of the World Cup Race, the Gin Blossoms will host a free concert in downtown Aspen. A firework extravaganza will follow the concert. Learn more about how you can attend the Women's World Cup games in Aspen.
Posted by at 09:54 AM | Comments (0)
December 05, 2005
Over two feet of fresh snow hits Aspen / Snowmass ski resorts
Last Friday, skiers on Aspen and Snowmass Mountains were thinking that ski conditions were looking pretty good for early season. That was before over two feet of snow fell over the weekend. On both Saturday and Sunday, locals and guests experienced a truly epic powder day on Aspen and Snowmass Mountains. As the day progressed, patrollers slowly opened new terrain that had not yet been skied this season. The first-time openings gave ski enthusiasts the chance to receive true "first tracks" in over 50 inches of snow accumulation. Click the link below to see a local skier enjoying the great conditions before the storm hit:
Ski Video Footage:
Pre-storm conditions
Posted by at 11:34 AM | Comments (0)
December 02, 2005
45 Travel Agents Experience Aspen / Snowmass
This weekend, Aspen / Snowmass is hosting the second annual Familiarization Tour for travel agents from all over. Today, the employees of the Aspen Skiing Company, Aspen / Snowmass property representatives, and Stay Aspen Snowmass representatives were able to spend the day out on the slopes showing the Travel Agents around the infamous Aspen Mountain. As the snow keeps falling, conditions just keep getting better.
Posted by at 03:59 PM | Comments (0)
