New Agreement to Keep the Premier Winter Action Sports Event in Aspen/Snowmass for Total of 13 Years

ESPN and Aspen Skiing Company have reached an agreement that will keep the Winter X Games, the world’s signature action sports event, in Aspen/Snowmass through 2014.

“ESPN is thrilled to extend its relationship with Aspen Skiing Company, the City of Aspen, Pitkin County and Town of Snowmass Village for two more years,” said Scott Guglielmino, senior vice president of programming and X Games. “After 11 fantastic years of world-class competition and progression in Aspen, we’re delighted to move into the new phase of X Games growth towards a global youth and lifestyle brand with one of our most long-term and valued relationships.”

The announcement is the fourth long-term announcement made with the two entities: in January 2004, Winter X Games and ASC announced a three-year deal to keep the event in Aspen through 2007; in January 2006, an announcement was made that the event would stay in Aspen through 2010; in January 2009, Winter X Games announced a three year extension through 2012.

“This has been an exemplary partnership of these two amazing brands,” said John Rigney, vice president of sales and events for Aspen Skiing Company. “A gigantic thank you goes to the entire Aspen/Snowmass community for its vision, support and commitment to this great event that is very much a part of our resort’s identity.”

Winter X Games originally rotated on a regular basis. The inaugural event was held in Snow Summit Mountain Resort, Calif. (1997), then it moved to Crested Butte, Colo., for two years (1998-1999) before moving east to Mount Snow, Vt. (2000-2001). It has been in Aspen since 2002. As part of the new agreement, the Winter X Games will remain in Aspen/Snowmass for a total of 13 consecutive years (2002-2014).

Photo by Jeremy Swanson

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.

I hate crossing seasons.  I mean, I don’t like skiing in the summer and I don’t like surfing in the winter, it just feels wrong.  Living in the Rockies, that means November through April are for winter sports, and summer activities go May through October, a full 6 months of each.  And I do mean a full season of each.  I guess that’s why I’m so unsettled by having to close Highlands a week early, it disrupts the symmetry.  Obviously, I just need to get over it, because despite the super-human efforts of all the mountain crews, the heat, the wind, and the un-believably dry spring combined were a force that could not be stopped.  

In the end, it comes down to respecting the mountains and listening to what they are telling you.  It’s not unlike knowing when to go into the backcountry and when to stay home.  Skiing is about immersing yourself in the elements, and knowing when to push yourself and when to back off.  The mountains have spoken and we are listening.  So its time to celebrate what was, and the spirit that everyone brought to the winter despite the unprecedented weather.  Every year is different, and while it’s a little early to be getting out the bikes, we all made the most out of what we had and we can all appreciate the great times we shared on the mountain no matter what the weather was doing. 

Thanks to all for persevering.

-Mike

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