Pullman “Best New Restaurants 2011”
Congrats to the Pullman in Glennwood Springs for their recognition in #esquiremagazine ! http://bit.ly/nDrsDa It was named one of the “Best New Restaurants 2011.”
#themeeting7 took place this past weekend! In case you missed the events check out our recap album: http://on.fb.me/rpimIp
#themeeting7 kicked off last night at the Wheeler Opera House and continued @bellyupaspen with a D&E fashion show…
Full album here: http://on.fb.me/oz6mnz
Sigh, September—eight whole weeks until the lifts fire up once more! Fortunately, Aspen Magazine has an antidote to your pre-season snow cravings: a Q&A with cliff-jumping, death-defying ski badass Seth Morrison.
We touched base with the man himself to discuss his latest ski film, The Ordinary Skier. See it for yourself—alongside the crème of other new snow porn— at this weekend’s much-anticipated snowsports film fest, The Meeting, running September 29 through October 1.
ASPEN MAG Tell us a little about your new film, The Ordinary Skier?
SETH It’s a documentary about my life but it focuses on a new chapter of my ski career: ski mountaineering. We spent 15 weeks in Chamonix over the course of two seasons and learned skills like glacier travel, crevasse rescue, ice climbing, rappelling and how to use ropes and tools. After 20 years of skiing, I needed to mix it up, try something new and remember why I’m in this game. It was filmed and directed by Constantine “CP” Papanicolaou and also stars Nate Wallace, JP Auclair, and Kye Petersen in Chamonix; Sean Pettit and Dan Treadway in B.C; and Pep Fujas in South America.
ASPEN MAG You are no ordinary skier; what inspired the title The Ordinary Skier?
SETH It’s open to interpretation. Everyone should watch the movie and decide for themselves. There’s a poem at the end. The audience will get a last little “ah ha” moment before walking out.
ASPEN MAG You have just returned from Europe, how does the Aspen leg of the tour compare?
SETH Aspen will be more laid back. In Europe, there were shop appearances and I had to give presentations about the Oakley products I am involved with. We were flying to a different city each day, so there wasn’t much rest or free time. Beyond that there will be fewer accents, which I miss!
ASPEN MAG What is special about The Ordinary Skier compared with your previous ski films?
SETH The time. It was a two-year project. We also had to shoot a ton of interviews because it’s a documentary and not your average ski action film. But the biggest difference is that we were shooting in Chamonix, where no one films ski movies. It was a logistical nightmare to capture footage in some of the most dangerous places I’ve ever skied.
ASPEN MAG What’s next on your horizon?
SETH Last year, while filming with TGR (Teton Gravity Research), we went up to Alaska to check out a new zone. But the conditions where we wanted to go were very bad. I look forward to getting to this secret location this year. Other than that, there’s no snow yet, so its hard to speculate. I would love to go back to Chamonix for fun, without cameras.
ASPEN MAG What are you most looking forward to skiing in Aspen this winter?
SETH I have always liked doing Gondola Laps at Ajax with industry friends while there for X Games. Highland Bowl and the hike to areas beyond are great because you can find fresh snow days after a storm.
Visit wheeleroperahouse.com for more information on The Meeting.
Psssssssssssttt! Check out these under-the-radar events surrounding The Meeting
FASHION FIX Vamp up your slope style! D&E will be hosting a fashion Show at The Belly Up after Thursday night’s NEPSA Video Awards.
PARTY Catch a gondola up Ajax on Friday night for a few special movie showings followed by an after-party and bonfire at the Sundeck.
Alert cool and creative types! ASPEN Magazine has immediate openings for interns. Email: business@aspenmagazine.com to inquire. @aspen #aspen #jobs
Aspen Ruggerfest is in full effect! Check out the entire album with the Gentlement of Aspen highlighted…. http://on.fb.me/lNhYsL
Photo Credit: Paul D DeBerjeois www.ColorBandit.com
Up, Up, Up and Away
The Snowmass Balloon Festival, now in its 36th year, brings its magic back to Aspen this Friday through Sunday. Don’t miss the sunrise takeoff tomorrow at 7AM on the Snowmass Village Softball Field; thirty-two balloons will simultaneously float off the ground against a backdrop of the majestic Rocky Mountains in fall colors. The balloon pilots will race down valley Friday, and then return to Snowmass skies Saturday and Sunday for spectators to enjoy.
The gals at Aspen Mag are particularly excited about Saturday evening’s Nite Glow event—a breathtaking light show in which the balloons are fired up on the ground, 6:00-8:30PM. Watch out for this year’s much-anticipated Humpty Dumpty balloon while munching on a barbecue sandwich or slice of pizza.
If ballooning doesn’t make you light-headed with excitement, perhaps the Snowmass Wine Festival will. Sponsored by the Snowmass Village Rotary, the event coincides with the Balloon Fest, with its Grand Tasting 1-5PM, Saturday. Sip on more than three hundred wines from around the globe and hobnob with the industry’s top authorities.
Thai Fix
We’re hooked on Thai 2 Go at the Aspen Saturday Market food court. Local husband and wife duo, Jordie Gerberg and Nitaya Thongjoi, together with their friend Richard Moeller, joined forces in June to launch a small catering company specializing in authentic Thai cuisine. Jordie and Richard provide the business brains; Nitaya, a Thai native, brings her authentic village-style cooking skills to the table. “I cook the same way as I cook for my family in Thailand,” says Nitaya.
Shrimp and chicken pad thai are the mainstays, outselling other dishes three to one, but each week Nitaya varies the rest of the menu, throwing the likes of spicy minced pork, chicken satay, and Thai green curry into the mix. This week’s dish: spicy tom yam chicken soup—perfect for taking the edge off chilly fall days. Wash down with authentic Thai iced tea or coffee.
Like Football? Love This
Two Aspen institutions are right on the ball with their Monday night football specials: Matsuhisa is offering $5 hand rolls and drinks specials, and Belly Up is sharing its gargantuan screen with zero cover charge—food and drinks specials vary weekly.
