I love lists. All the complexities of life boiled down into two columns. When the right hand column was populated with laundry, a cocktail party I had no hot date for, and scrubbing the tub, the decision became clear. Ahh…clarity. Plans were hatched and Friday evening found me wedged in the now infamous MD9 Neon with MD, and Meats.
We made the I-70 blast to Aspen in 3 ½ uneventful hours made tolerable by my faithful companion, a 12-pk of Bud. We met Karl Stall and Phatstix at their buddy’s house for a little post vehicle decompression. My wingmen did me right as we retreated to our accommodations just as I was starting to hit my stride.
The morning constituted of assembling what will now be called the Karl Stall Posse and getting Meats some ski boots. Not that he doesn’t have any boots, just that his were located inside some mid 80s GM product in Denver..ooops. After JONGing around the base area like fish outta water (where do I put my shoes?), we made it into the gondie ‘bout 9:30.
By the time we get to the water jugs, the KSP has grown to about 10 strong. On the first run, Karl Stall decides to spice things up with an unintendo 50+ mph piste exit into the woods. Didn’t see it, but spectacular and scary by all accounts. While no new snow had fallen in 5 or 6 days, I was impressed by the softness. Days like this usually have me heading for the BC due to my dislike of anything firm. Ajax served up generous helpings of steep chalky faces, traverse right, steep chalky faces, traverse right, 9-0 on the groomer to the bottom.
All day, the KSP stayed together, 3 buckets worth of chargers rallying around the mountain. Phatsix, Raddam, Jane, Hyrupz, KS, MoiPai, and various others were in the mix. This crew is strong. The Aspen gondie chews up the vert but we were waiting 2mins max at the bottom. Everyone hauls ass, but Radam hauls the most ass. Jane hauls more ass that 99% of the guys on the hill. Aspen is full of ripping hotties, I love it.
The final gondie wasn’t the only thing loaded around 3pm. The sun came back out for the last run as we leisurely (everything is relative) made our way down Face to Face to Face to Slalom. We was worked.
There is nothing like the good vibes of a solid crew to make an average day, conditions wise, memorable. The KSP has this in spades. I’ve got 3 more days on my classic pass so I’ll be back. Thanks for all the hospitality and showing me around the hill.
Agreed. A great crew. You can easily rack-up the vert on that hill. We were probably getting close to 30k of vert.
KS, launch on the first run of the day was nuts. I was following behind him into a huge roller going mach 90 next thing I know he is flying way further and bigger than intended. He must've launched 70 feet. I don't think that much air was intended as he began to drift onto his back. At which point I slow down knowing the LZ isn't going to be clean. I come over the rise and all I can see is a ski in the middle of the groomer. About 200 feet away KS body had come to rest in the woods. It was defintely sketch, but he shook it off and ripped hard the rest of the day.
The KS crew was a ton of fun. There were a solid 10 rippers on the hill. Raddam, definitely hauls too. The guy rocks both sides of the lens. His lady moves like she's one of the guys if not better.
There were no crowds. With a town that small and 4 resorts within a few miles I'm sure lines are rare out that way.
meats got stuck with skis that weren't his, poles that were about 10 inches shorter and he managed to borrow some boots as well. For being on completely foreign gear the kid ripped pretty damn hard. On our last run he even launched a small cliff.
I'm stoked to get back out that way and check a couple of the other hills. I'd really like to see the area where they hold the freeride comps.
Thanks to everybody who hooked-us-up in various ways and for showing us the goods at your hill. My best CO day yet this year (they just keep getting better).
I watched the KSP roll by from the "Couch" (chair 7) as everyone headed down Gents Ridge. Made a couple of cruiser runs with Rad and Jane, but otherwise missed skiing with the group due to being confined to the grooms cause of a bruised tib/fib. Hope everyone had fun, and we'll show you around that comp area on a later trip.
How come Raddam hauls so much ass?!! See what I have to deal with?
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