Year of Events

Aspen/Snowmass Amps up the Skiing and Riding experience With Over 30 Free Events During the 2008-2009 season

 Aspen/Snowmass, Colo., 2008-2009 – Coming off of a record-breaking snowfall year, Aspen/Snowmass will once again enhance guest experience with over 30 events during the 2008-2009 season.  The Meeting, a cornerstone event for the ski and snowboard industry, will kick-off the event schedule, October 2-5, 2008, and the second annual CoverGirl Snow Angels Invitational, featuring Aspen/Snowmass Team Athlete Gretchen Bleiler, will wrap-up the schedule on April 3-5, 2009.  Additional events not to miss are the Aspen Winternational FIS Alpine World Cup, ESPN Winter X Games 13 and the ninth-annual Spring Jam with two-weekends of events across the resort.

Aspen/Snowmass continues to roll out the best event schedule in the industry.  Even better, a majority of these events – from the Winter X Games to the Bud Light Hi-Fi concert series – are FREE.

Please see the complete event schedule with descriptions below.

October

The Meeting an Aspen Snow Film Celebration - Wheeler Opera House/Belly Up - Oct. 2-5

NEPSA Video and Art Awards - Wheeler Opera House - Oct. 2

The D&E Ski and Snowboard Shop Fashion Show - Belly Up Aspen - Oct. 2

November

Aspen Winternational FIS Alpine World Cup - Aspen Mountain - Nov. 28-29

Bud Light Hi-Fi Concert Series - Aspen Mountain - Nov. 29

December

Summit for Life Uphill Race - Aspen Mountain - Dec. 6

January

Wintersköl™*** Featuring Men's Health Village in Gondola Plaza - Aspen/Snowmass - Jan. 8-11

ESPN Winter X Games 13 - Buttermilk - Jan. 22-25

Bud Light Hi-Fi Concert Series - Aspen Mountain -  Jan. 23

February

Aspen/Snowmass Ski & Snowboard Open - Buttermilk - Feb. 5-8

Bud Light Big Air Fridays - Snowmass - Feb. 13, 20, & 27

Bud Light Hi-Fi Concert Series - Snowmass - Feb. 15

Mardi Gras Celebration** - Snowmass Mall - Feb. 24

Colorado Freeride Championships - Snowmass - Feb. 27-March 1

March

Bud Light Big Air Fridays - Snowmass - March 6, 13, 20, 27

St. Patty's Day Celebration** - Snowmass Mall - March 17

Bud Light Spring Jam - Aspen/Snowmass - March 20-22, 27-29

Core Party - Downtown Aspen - March 20

KickAspen Big Air - Aspen Mountain - March 21

Bud Light Hi-Fi Concert Series - Snowmass  - March 22

Boot Camp - Snowmass - March 21 & 22

Bud Light Hi-Fi Concert Series - Aspen Mountain - March 27

Schnee Tag - Snowmass - March 28                      

Helly Hansen Battle of the Bowls - Aspen Highlands - March 29

Boot Camp - Snowmass - March 28 & 29                                                                                         

April

Bud Light Big Air Fridays  - Snowmass - April 3

CoverGirl Snow Angels Invitational  - Snowmass - April 3-5

Complete 2008-2009 Event Schedule:

The Meeting – Aspen's Snow Film Celebration – October 2-5, 2008

This October, Aspen/Snowmass will once again host The Meeting, a weekend celebration of ski and snowboard films. Now in its fourth year, The Meeting has grown to be the cornerstone kick-off event for the ski and snowboard industry.  Matchstick Productions, a new participant in The Meeting, will show their film "Claim," which features a segment from Snowmass.  Snowboarder Travis Rice, in conjunction with Quicksilver and Red Bull, will premier their new movie, "That's All, That's It," joining film favorites Mack Dawg Productions, Level 1 and Poor Boyz Productions among others. The film screenings will be surrounded by parties, events and other surprises with the top ski and snowboard pros featured in the films, the filmmakers themselves, and other industry influencers in attendance to discuss trends and entertaining stories behind this year's movies.

NEPSA Video and Art Awards followed by the D&E Ski and Snowboard Shop Fashion Show – October 2, 2008 – The NEPSA Awards offer athletes, film makers and artists from around the country an opportunity to showcase their talents and compete for a cash prize. Athletes are invited to create multimedia presentations using music, video, photography and other mediums. This year's theme is Entourage.  Directly following the awards is the second annual D&E Ski and Snowboard Shop Fashion Show at Belly Up, featuring the season's best in upcoming street and outerwear, followed by a live band to be announced at a later date.

Aspen Winternational FIS Women's Alpine World Cup Races – November 28-29, 2008

The best female skiers in the world descend on Aspen Mountain for a weekend of nonstop action and entertainment.  This year's Winternational marks the 40^th Anniversary of World Cup racing in Aspen.  Spectators are invited to the base of Lift 1A on Aspen Mountain to watch the Giant Slalom on Friday, November 28 and the Slalom on Saturday, November 29 with great viewing from grandstands and a jumbotron. Television coverage by NBC and Versus will capture the excitement that embodies World Cup racing. The weekend includes an outdoor concert at the base of Aspen Mountain with fireworks on November 29.

FREE Bud Light Hi-Fi Concert Series – On-going – November 2008-March 2009

The popular FREE Bud Light Hi-Fi Concert Series is back and debuts during Aspen Winternational, November 29, and continues through March 27, with a series of five outdoor concerts held during key events and peak weekends throughout the season. All concerts are held in unique locations in Aspen and Snowmass and announced throughout the season. Past performers include North Mississippi Allstars, Blues Traveler, De La Soul, Ozomatli, Everclear, Big Head Todd and the Monsters, POD, Arrested Development and more. Stay tuned for announcements on the artists for this season's series.       

Summit for Life Uphill Race on Aspen Mountain – December 6, 2008

The 5^th Annual Summit for Life Uphill Race invites local enthusiasts and regional sports junkies to charge up over 3,000 vertical feet to the top of Aspen Mountain using their preferred choice of lighting and non-motorized equipment – snowshoes, skins and other creative means in the dead of night.  This marks the first year that there will be two different start times.  Recreational athletes will start at 5 p.m. and competitive athletes will start at 6 p.m.  The public is invited to a party following the race atop Aspen Mountain to enjoy live music, drinks, food and an awards ceremony. The event will benefit the Chris Klug Foundation.

The 58^th Aspen Wintersköl™ Festival – January 8-11, 2009 ***

Wintersköl features more than 40 events in downtown Aspen and at all four ski areas: Snowmass, Aspen Mountain, Buttermilk and Aspen Highlands.  Don't miss the Men's Health Village in Gondola Plaza, the Canine Fashion Show, the Buttermilk Uphill Race, Wintersculpt, Wintersköl Parade a spectacular torchlight descent and fireworks over Aspen Mountain. 

ESPN Winter X Games 13 – January 22-25, 2009 – LIVE TV

For an unprecedented eighth year in a row, more than 250 ski, snowboard and snowmobile athletes from across the globe will flock to Aspen/Snowmass to compete in ESPN's Winter X Games 13 on Buttermilk.  In addition to the action at Buttermilk, Aspen/Snowmass will host a Bud Light Hi-Fi concert at the base of Aspen Mountain on Friday, January 23.

Aspen/Snowmass Ski & Snowboard Open – February 5-8, 2009

The Aspen/Snowmass Open at Buttermilk offers a unique opportunity for up-and-coming skiers and riders to get noticed on the same venue as top athletes during the famous Winter X Games. In its fourth year, the Open is expected to draw 350 men and women skiers and snowboarders to compete in two disciplines – Slopestyle and Superpipe – for a chance at prize money and glory on the hallowed Buttermilk venues.

Bud Light Big Air Friday Series – On-going – February – April 2009

This entertaining eight-week series is entering its sixth year at Snowmass. The best snowboarders and skiers in the state descend upon Fanny Hill at the Snowmass Mall each Friday to perform the latest tricks for a chance at a prize purse and series points.  Each event will be followed by live music and Fireworks over Fanny Hill.  Feb.13, 20 and 27; March 6, 13, 20 and 27; April 3.

27^th Annual Snowmass Mardi Gras Celebration – February 24, 2009**

Snowmass celebrates 27 years of Fat Tuesday revelry with one of the biggest Mardi Gras bashes in ski country. From a wild uphill race at dawn to parties late into the night at local bars, this authentic fete rooted in New Orleans traditions offers Cajun fun for every age. Nonstop action includes mask-making for kids, a madcap parade, crawdad boils, bead and prize throws and king cake.

Colorado Freeride Championships – February 27-March 1, 2009

The Colorado Freeride Championships is a big mountain competition featuring both men and women skiers and snowboarders. Some of the biggest names in the industry come out to play on the cliff-littered terrain of Snowmass, creating a wild show for spectators.  The expert-only terrain requires cutting-edge skills from the over 100 participating athletes who continue to push the boundaries of their sport.  The Colorado Freeride Championship is an IFSA sanctioned event.

St. Paddy's Day Celebration in Snowmass – March 17, 2009**

The biggest Blarney Bash in the mountains kicks off with the Lucky Leprechaun Scavenger Hunt including pot-o-gold prizes for kids and adults. Emerald Isle festivities continue all day with green beer and Irish fare, kids' activities, free concerts, giveaways, Celtic dancers and bagpipe marches.

Bud Light Spring Jam – March 20-22 and March 27-29, 2009

The ninth annual Bud Light Spring Jam, the premier spring festival in the Rocky Mountains, will bring two weekends of new-school competitions, downtown concerts and parties.  The festival kicks off on March 20 with the Core Party concert in downtown Aspen and continues the next day with the 10^th annual KickAspen Big Air, where skiers and snowboarders compete under the lights at the base of Aspen Mountain.  A terrain park Boot Camp, March 21, 22, 28 and 29; also offers both adults and kids instruction on how to slide a box or hit a rail in a mini-park on Snowmass. There will be two Bud Light Hi-Fi concerts throughout the event and last year's new events Schnee Tag and Helly Hansen Battle in the Bowls will once again join the Spring Jam line up. 

Schnee Tag – March 28, 2009

The second annual Schnee Tag event (pronounced Sch-knee Tog) invites teams of four to create a craft that they will pilot down Fanny Hill in Snowmass and attempt to soar over a 75x20 foot pond.  Every team has a theme and will perform a skit before they descend.  This event is just as ridiculous and hilarious as it sounds.  Last year Red Bull awarded the first, second and third place teams with amazing prizes, from a trip to a NASCAR race to paragliding flights with the Red Bull Airforce.  Stay tuned for this year's prizes.

Helly Hansen Battle in the Bowls – March 29, 2009

The second annual Helly Hansen Battle in the Bowls will once again be hosted by Team Aspen/Snowmass Athlete Chris Davenport, and features teams of two using Flaik GPS devices to track how skilled each duo is at skiing the many bowls and varied terrain of Aspen Highlands.  Awards and prize money will be given to the top three teams to finish the course as well as the teams with the fastest bowl lap, fastest time down the bowl, most vertical and various other categories. 

CoverGirl Snow Angels Invitational – April 3-5, 2009

The world best female snowboarders, including host and recent ESPY winner, Gretchen Bleiler, will convene in Snowmass for the second annual CoverGirl Snow Angels Invitational.  In addition to the snowboard superpipe competition, the athletes will participate in photo shoots, various seminars relating to the industry and all that Aspen/Snowmass has to offer – from dining to shopping.  Look for big names to join Bleiler, such as Hannah Teter and Kelly Clark.

Aspen Skiing Company operates the four mountains in the Aspen/Snowmass area - Snowmass, Aspen Mountain, Aspen Highlands and Buttermilk - as well as the award-winning Ski & Snowboard Schools of Aspen/Snowmass. The area offers unparalleled nightlife and off-slope activities as well. Aspen/Snowmass is accessible by two of the most convenient airports in the mountains – Aspen/Pitkin County Airport (ASE) (3 miles from Aspen) and Eagle County Airport (EGE) (70 miles from Aspen). For more information on Aspen Skiing Company, please call 800-525-6200 or 970-925-1220, or visit the company's website at www.aspensnowmass.com.

*All events and dates are tentative and subject to change.

**Hosted by Town of Snowmass Village

***Hosted by Aspen Chamber Resort Association

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