Stoke Tour Aspen. from Frank Shine on Vimeo.

Here is a little highlights video from our recent Tecnica/Blizzard Stoke Tour in Aspen. George Blair and Travis Townes, our esteemed Colorado reps, put together a sales contest on Colorado’s Front Range to find the best sales associates and stoke ‘em out with a few days of pow shredding in Aspen on 2011-12 Blizzard skis. Throw in some infamous Kiffor Berg backflips, some Pat Sewell slash turns and a snow cat courtesy of Aspen Mountain Powder Tours, and get stoked!

Video edit and Photos by Frank Shine, Shineline Productions

January was a fairly dry month for the Roaring Fork Valley. Save for a few light dustings, the mountain began to get firm, with moguls gradually building across each and every aspect of Aspen Mountain and Aspen Highlands. Even Snowmass was riding a little rough around the edges, but a few adventure-squirreling missions did turn out some pow stashes. The Colorado Gems tour kept us busy for a good chunk of time, with some storms to soften up the turns at each of those beautiful micro-resorts. X-Games came and went, all of its carnival workers and television crews with it, and Aspen is still reeling from the week’s events. If you’ve ever been to the ‘big show’, then you’ll know how all the parties and shindigs smattered across town have brought on the nickname, ‘Red Bull/Vodka Week’. And the hangover lasted at least a few solid days into February, where up until this last weekend, temps have been blisteringly cold.

But February, wow, what a girl. She has delivered us with four days of storms which hit the reset button on powder in the valley, and everything is skiing so well now. Laughter can be heard in lift lines throughout the valley, and high-fives have been readily handed out by lifties and patrollers, tourists and ski bums alike. Over the weekend, I took some time to ski with 16 year-old Parker Olsen to help him train for his upcoming debut at the Crested Butte Junior Freeskiing World Tour competition this next week. We spent some time on Aspen logging vertical, thanks in part to 18 minute gondola laps and the opening of Trainors ridge, a steep, technical section off the side of Ruthie’s race run. A day at Snowmass on Sunday found us dropping a multitude of cliffs in the Rock Island section of the Cirque, and Parker successfully worked his way up from 5 foot cliffs to 10, then 20, then wrapping it all up with a stomped out 25 foot air.

And the snow kept coming. Monday and Tuesday I had agreed to help coach (read: set up gates on a super-G course) for my friends at the Paralympic Development Program based out of Aspen Highlands, but the accumulation of new snow put a hold on those plans. Instead, we coaches and Laurie Stephens, the only athlete to show up, decided to crush out some powder turns off the Deep Temerity lift. Highlands is great for the way the snow often redeposits in the trees and deep on the Castle Creek side, and we took advantage of the hero-like conditions to make fast turns and catch a lot of air. I’ve been working on some new tricks to play around with in powder, like butter 360s and hand drags, and I finally feel strong enough and confident enough with my powder skiing to test them out. It’s always intimidating trying new things on the hill, but having good friends around helped me step up my game.

Tomorrow, it’s time to put the tricks to work as I head out by way of snowmobile with Pat Sewell and Frank Shine. We are looking to find some pillows to tap around on, and with Frank’s prowess with the camera, we are looking to make the most of the break in weather that has been forecast for the day. Time to go lay out the backcountry gear and pack my bag for a long day.

This just in from Pat Sewell, fellow Blizzard team rider:

Hello friends!!! I hope this letter finds you all in good spirits and in good health with many powder days under your belts this season! I just wanted to drop you all a line and invite you to the "First Annual Fallen Friends Memorial Bump-Off, Shred Fest, and Fundraiser" set to go off Saturday March 21st at Aspen Highlands! I hope you all can come celebrate the mountain lifestyle that unites us all in honor and remembrance of our fallen friends Johnny Nicoletta, Wallace Westfeldt, Billy Poole, Blake Davidson, and all the others of an unfortunatley long list of fallen friends. The event is a benefit for the Aspen Valley Ski and Snowboard Club and is a team formatted new-school bump off and shred fest intended to unite the entire snowsports community. The venue will consist of a unique set of bumps, jumps, jibs, bonks, kickers, and even a ski splash. A venue with something for everyone whether you’re new-shool or old-school. Participants will compete in teams of 2-5 throughout a two hour jam session and be judged based on overall impression, team costume, and various other catergories. DJ Naka G will be spinning live on scene and a party & good times are a sure thing! So come get get your shred on and help raise some money for the kids! Saturday March 21st, Aspen Highlands, Colorado, USA, Earth… Get a team a 2-5 people together, decide a team name and theme/costume, register at www.aspensnowmass.com/springjam or bring $$$ the day of the event, and come ready to shred, party, and celebrate the lives of our fallen friends. $25 per participant. All proceeds going to the Aspen Valley Ski Club. See you all there!!! Do it! Do it!
P.Sewell
PS- Please forward this e-mail to all your friends and help me spread the word!