Featured Picture: Jeremy Swanson
For 3 weeks in January and February 2025, the world’s foremost park and pipe skiers—together with the perfect up-and-coming freeskiers—will probably be progressing, competing and celebrating in a single place: Aspen Snowmass.
Whereas the Colorado resort has all the time hosted premier freeski occasions, the back-to-back line-up of X Video games, Toyota U.S. Grand Prix and Revolution Tour at Aspen Snowmass make up an nearly 20-day freeskiing extravaganza. Add Shaun White’s all-new Snow League in March, the first-ever skilled league devoted to snowboarding and freeskiing competitions, and Aspen Snowmass presents extra alternatives than ever earlier than to see your favourite skiers and snowboarders lay all of it on the road.
“Having slope, pipe and large air proper subsequent to one another, and all on the base of a mountain… it’s simply the perfect,” says Hanna Faulhaber, an Aspen native and 2023 ladies’s freeski halfpipe World Champion. Faulhaber credit a part of her success to that venue entry and straightforward spectating. “I keep in mind taking your complete week off faculty to observe X Video games once I was younger.”
Aspen Snowmass spans 4 distinct ski mountains however Buttermilk has the respect of internet hosting this unprecedented line-up. Only a five-minute stroll from a parking zone, Buttermilk’s X Park is house to the world’s most well-known 22-foot, Zaugg-cut Superpipe and may simply be snowboarding’s most accessible spectating venue.
“You park on the base of Buttermilk, stroll 50 ft, and also you’re on the course,” says Alex Ferreira, Aspen’s legendary half-pipe skier. Ferreira made historical past final season with essentially the most dominant season in freeski historical past—successful all seven halfpipe occasions he entered (together with all 5 World Cup occasions). “It’s nice for spectators, nice for athletes… I’ve by no means seen a resort with higher entry.”
TJ Erickson, 22, a latest CU grad who resides in Piedmont, California, has rallied a bunch of associates and made the journey to X Video games Aspen the previous two years. The school associates shared an Airbnb, carpooled, introduced groceries and skied with pocket PB&Js to save cash.
“Everybody there may be there for a similar purpose: to have a great time,” says Erickson. “The environment and being there to witness new tips in particular person as a substitute of TV is so memorable.”
Erickson remembers Megan Oldham making motion sports activities historical past final X Video games when she landed the first-ever triple cork in a ladies’s ski or snowboard occasion, scoring an ideal 50 factors along with her leftside triple cork 1440 and successful a gold medal within the ski large air ultimate. “It’s unbelievable to see athletes land tips for the primary time ever,” says Erickson. “Seeing them try to fail and at last land it and the gang goes wild—there’s nothing prefer it.”
A powerful six athletes from the Roaring Fork Valley make up the U.S. Freeski staff. Along with Ferreira and Faulhaber, Tristan Feinberg, Eugene “Kai” Morris and Nick Geiser spherical out the Aspen contingent. And native skier Hunter Maytin is nearly to interrupt via to the staff degree, too.
Ferreira, who has competed in X Video games Aspen since 2013, remembers sneaking out of Aspen Center Faculty with buddies like fellow X Video games medalist Torin Yater-Wallace to observe X Video games observe. “Simon and Tanner have been of their Oakley kits and their Crimson Bull helmets and I believed, that is what I wish to do.” Shortly after, Yater-Wallace and Ferreira have been forerunners for the occasions. “Not solely watching however having the ability to ski the identical pipe as these athletes was the good expertise ever.”
In fact, the snowboarding is just too good to restrict any Aspen go to solely to spectating. Through the contest line-up, it’s considerably necessary to interrupt away from Buttermilk (even when it’s solely skier’s proper to lap Tiehack Categorical) and benefit from the seemingly infinite snowboarding choices and totally different vibes at Ajax, Highlands, and Snowmass—totaling some 5,000 acres. Even throughout world-class occasions, carry strains can really feel non-existent, strains can go un-skied and powder stashes can final till the afternoon.
At Aspen Mountain, maximize vert with 3,267-foot ‘T-to-B’ gondola laps that can check the energy of your quads. A small mountain that skis a lot bigger, Ajax unlocks her secrets and techniques whenever you hyperlink up a number of zones, like Walsh’s to Gent’s Ridge, or the Face of Bell Mountain to the FIS carry to “the Dumps.” A visit again in time, Raise 1A will drop you above underappreciated terrain just like the double fall line of Corkscrew, or the proper pitches on Norway that present the perfect view of city. Ajax regulars know each nook and cranny of their Silver Queen and your finest guess is to discover a native and attempt to sustain.
At Aspen Highlands, you’ll be able to erase your late-night nachos with a hike up Highland Bowl for a number of the finest inbounds, big-mountain terrain in North America. Deep Temerity Chair accesses a number of the steepest, sustained, fall-line runs in Colorado. However, don’t miss the decrease mountain, which in all probability holds extra high-quality, off-the-map stashes than any Aspen Snowmass resort. Runs like Golden Horn Woods, P-Chutes, Epicure and Higher and Decrease Stein, all accessed through the Thunderbowl Chair, have steep and typically technical terrain, all accessed from a triple chair which you can hop on from the bottom if there’s a line at Exhibition (uncertain). And at last, at Snowmass, traditional lengthy runs like Sheer Bliss, Lengthy Shot and Sneaky’s gives you a style of the resort’s scale. With a lot terrain, there’s one thing for everybody, from a number of the world’s finest terrain parks to knowledgeable, gated terrain with cliffs of all sizes to drop.
The stacked occasion line-up, paired with a number of the world’s finest and rarely-crowded snowboarding, is sufficient to make Aspen Snowmass a no brainer vacation spot this season. However the powder on prime of the groomer is that the legendary après scene, worldly eating choices and raucous nightlife rival that of a metropolis. On and off the mountain, you’ll see over-the-top shows of wealth, however you’ll additionally see Aspen Valley Ski and Snowboard Membership youngsters chowing brown-bag lunches at Highlands, hard-charging contractors, property managers and cooks snowboarding rowdy strains and lifties pumping their fists after an awesome lunch lap. Snowboarding (and après) is the nice equalizer in Aspen— billionaires and servers share carry rides, tables at Bonnie’s, benches outdoors Highlands Alehouse and barstools on the J-Bar.
Reside music alternatives are by no means arduous to search out in Aspen Snowmass, both. New this 12 months, when followers purchase tickets to X Video games Aspen competitions they may even achieve entry to that day’s live performance occasions that includes performances by Every day Bread, Illenium and extra. The Bud Mild Hello-Fi Live performance Collection hosts free outside live shows on the town and across the resorts. The second-annual Palm Tree Music Competition is slated for Feb. 21-22 and can function headliners together with Dom Dolla, Kygo, Fisher and Sofi Tucker. The Stomach Up—an intimate membership with an enormous fame—usually brings mega acts to Aspen as properly.
What’s Ferreira most wanting ahead to this 12 months? “The group,” he says. “I feed off the vitality and the gang in Aspen. They’ve been such good supporters of me and my teammates’ careers for greater than 10 years. I’m wanting ahead to placing on an awesome present.”
You’ll be able to catch Alex kicking off the thrill on the twenty fourth annual X Video games, adopted by the Toyota U.S. Grand Prix, a FIS World Cup cease, and at last the Revolution Tour at Aspen Snowmass Open, which focuses on riders aged 13-19 who wish to transition to the elite degree. (Previously the Aspen Snowmass Open, the occasion is without doubt one of the longest working open occasions and has all the time adopted X Video games, giving younger athletes their likelihood at an enormous break). Lastly, the inaugural Snow League, which options snowboarding at Aspen Snowmass, however contains snowboarding at subsequent spots, will host head- to-head championships, a points-based rating system and not less than a $1.5 million prize purse. Spokespersons have acknowledged that White’s deep appreciation for Aspen’s contributions to his profession helped him select Aspen Snowmass to launch the league.
“Aspen is called a celebration city,” provides Ferreira. “In the event you’re coming to observe the competitions, you’re going to have a great time. That’s a part of the attract. There’s nice snowboarding, nice occasions, nice nightlife… I’ve been everywhere in the world, and I’ve by no means seen a spot prefer it.”
LOGISTICS
GETTING THERE
Situated simply 5 minutes from Buttermilk and 10 minutes from Snowmass or Aspen Mountain, the Aspen-Pitkin County Airport accommodates nonstop flights from eight main U.S. airports on United, Delta and American Airways. By automotive from Denver, drive 157 miles east on Interstate 70, exit at Glenwood Springs (possibly cease for a scorching springs soak) and head 41 miles southeast to Aspen on Freeway 82.
ACCOMMODATIONS
Aspen’s most reasonably priced resort, St. Moritz Lodge & Condominiums supply rooms, condos with kitchenettes and 26 hostel dorms with shared loos. The quiet location is barely two blocks from a bus cease and shut sufficient to stroll to Aspen Mountain in your ski boots. Free parking, scorching tub, breakfast and joyful hour treats are included.
Wildwood Snowmass presents group-friendly lodging of their Balcony Bunk rooms that sleep as much as 4 folks and include personal balconies. A bit additional down valley, the Hoffmann is Basalt’s latest resort, with rooms beginning at $300 and a location that’s strolling distance to the mixed-use improvement of Willits (Entire Meals and reasonably priced eating places and bars).
Limelight Aspen and Limelight Snowmass supply an area’s fee to Coloradans, with 30% off room charges and complimentary parking.
THE SKIING
Between 4 mountains and one carry ticket, Aspen Snowmass presents greater than 5,600 acres of terrain. For environment friendly vertical, nothing beats Ajax. A high-speed top-to-bottom gondola companies Aspen Mountain’s 3,267 ft of vertical simply steps from downtown, and as a lot of Aspen’s clientele isn’t right here for the snowboarding, carry strains aren’t a factor. Skiers’ proper from the summit is the brand-new Hero’s terrain, which is filled with steep glades and spicy chutes.
For a memorable earn-your-turns expertise, hike and ski Highlands Bowl at Aspen Highlands. A dramatic ridge hike accesses a 12,392 summit, views of the Maroon Bells and a few 1,500 vertical ft of backcountry-esque snowboarding.
Whereas Buttermilk is thought for its terrain parks, Superpipe and child trails, you could find some steeper terrain and secret powder stashes beneath Tiehack carry.
Snowmass is a beast—it boasts 96 runs, 4,406 vertical ft and three,332 acres. Whereas it’s identified for completely groomed, wide-open cruisers and immaculate, all-levels terrain parks, its terrain decisions are seemingly infinite, together with steep couloirs and cliff bands.
EVENTS
X Video games: JAN 23–25TH, 2025
Toyota U.S. Grand Prix: JAN 30–FEB 6TH, 2025
Rev Tour: FEB 6–FEB 11TH , 2025
The Snow League: MARCH 7-8TH, 2025
LOCAL’S TIPS
ON THE RESORT
Regardless of an expensive fame, it’s potential to go to and ski Aspen Snowmass on a price range. For carry tickets, save as much as $80 whenever you buy 4 days of carry tickets not less than seven days forward of time—or save extra whenever you ski longer. The 2024-25 Ikon Cross contains as much as seven days at Aspen Snowmass and the Ikon Base Plus Cross contains 5 days (with some black-out dates). Each embody 25-percent off tickets for associates and households.
On-mountain freebies embody complimentary Lavazza espresso on the base of all Aspen Snowmass mountains within the morning and free s’mores at Snowmass Base Village each afternoon. At Snowmass, First Tracks—the chance to ski untouched powder or freshly groomed runs earlier than the mountain formally opens for the day—are free and supplied three days every week. And to make it very easy, the Roaring Fork Transportation Authority runs free buses between all 4 resorts.
IN TOWN
Limelight Lodge presents joyful hour at each its Aspen and Snowmass areas with $15 cheese or pepperoni pizzas, $8 wines and $2 off beer. The Buck (Bar Beneath Cooper and Kitchen) serves reasonably priced drinks and a bar menu with appetizers, burgers, French onion soup, hen sandwiches, lasagnas and nightly specials—all priced beneath $13. An enormous slice of pepperoni pizza at New York Pizza prices lower than $7 and filling wraps from Massive Wrap value round $12.
