Under a beautiful Colorado sky, tons of competitors flocked to Buttermilk Mountain in Aspen to train for the 2009 Aspen/Snowmass Open presented by Audi. The ASO is a chance for everyone to come out and do their thing on the (slightly changed) X Games slopestyle course and superpipe. And with a alack of open events around North America this year, kids flocked to Aspen, a evidenced by the huge lineup of people waiting to drop into the slopestyle course.
The slopestyle course saw minor changes to it from two weeks ago at the Winter X Games. The Down-Flat-Down rail/box feature was removed, the channel gap jump was filled in and shortened, and the start area is flatter. Minor changes to an impressive an challenging slope course. The superpipe is still a 22-ft tall, almost 600-ft long beast. The only visible difference was the drop in was considerably shorter than the one use at the X Games.
All day, competitors enjoyed a great day of practice under warm temperatures, as the course gradually got softer throughout the day. Some pretty big slopestyle names were out practicing today, including X Games competitors Phil Casabon, Matt Walker and Bobby Brown, with Tom Wallisch, Joe Schuster, Alexis Godbout, and a whole host of up-and-comers were spotted. The halfpipe field looked a little lighter, but the likes of Byron Wells, Taylor Seaton, Matt Philippi and Lyndon Sheehan, to name a few, were holding it down in the stunt ditch today.
Big name female competitors are representing as well, with locals Megan Olenick and Whitney Wickes being complimented by Michelle Parker, Keri Herman, Angeli Van Laanen and the likes. And rumor has it that the legendary Luke Van Valin and his intoxicating voice will be announcing throughout the entire weekend… A plus for everyone involved.
No doubt this thur-fri, Buttermilk mountain will be the place to be for competitive freeski action. Stay tuned for daily updates!
Aspen/Snowmass Open Schedule
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Training (Ski Superpipe competitors only) — 8:30 a.m. – 9:15 a.m.
Ski Superpipe – men’s qualifying — 9:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Welcome Reception/ Mandatory Athlete Meeting at Bumps — 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Friday, February 6, 2009
Training (Ski Superpipe competitors only) — 8:30 a.m. – 9:15 a.m.
Ski Superpipe – men’s semi-finals — 9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Ski Superpipe – women’s semi finals — 11:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
Ski Superpipe – women’s and men’s finals — 12:30 p.m. – 1:15 p.m.
Awards Ceremony – immediately following competition — 3:30 p.m.
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Training (Ski Slopestyle) — 8:30 a.m. – 9:15 a.m.
Ski Slopestyle – men’s qualifying — 9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Mandatory Athlete Meeting at Bumps — 4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Sunday, February 8, 2008
Training (Ski Slopestlye) — 8:30 a.m. – 9:15 a.m.
Ski Slopestyle – men’s semi-finals — 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Ski Slopestyle – women’s semi-finals — 11:45 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Ski Slopestyle – women’s and men’s finals — 1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Awards Ceremony – immediately following competition — 3:30 p.m.
