Aspen Peak - Niche Media - Aspen living at its peak
Issue link: http://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/601986
aspenpeak-magazine.com 145 from top: Hundreds line up for the frst day of Lift 1A in 1971, when the two-seater replaced the historic Lift-1; in the spring, Lift 1A will pulley its fnal chairs, and be replaced by a faster, more modern successor. talking with a number of locals. Immediately I realized Aspen was experiencing a post-recession renaissance. But most strikingly, it was a renaissance that stayed true to the Aspen idea of balancing mind, body, and spirit— an idea adopted by the 1949 Goethe Bicentennial and creation of the Aspen Institute. In other words, all areas of Aspen's economy and cultural heritage seemed to be booming in parallel with each other—in harmony. If any event could encapsulate this resurgence, it would be Aspen's successful bid to host the 2017 FIS Al- pine World Cup Finals. This event is much more than a ski race. It's a celebration of athleticism, tradition, and old-world elegance. Some of my most visceral child- hood memories were standing on the side of the World Cup racecourse and watching these athletes perform. They blitzed and careened down the course, cowbells clanging, fans screaming in French and German. I re- member how Aspen had this glow and palpable excite- ment during the previous World Cup events. It wasn't just the races. It was opening up our town to athletes, fans, and members of the press from all over the world. We wanted to show them our Aspen: our world-class res- taurants, our concert halls, our Victorian architecture. But I should say these weren't the World Cup Finals. 2017 will be the frst time Aspen will lay claim to this event since 1950. The bar has been raised. Thank- fully, Aspen is ready. The World Cup will showcase an Aspen that has transformed itself since the hard days of 2008. There is the Aspen Art Museum, for example, which was relocated and rebuilt in the heart of down- town. With its arresting new design, engaging with world-class exhibitions is more accessible than ever. And it's not just the museum making news in the art world. Aspen is seeing a new wave of notable galler- ies, such as New York City's internationally acclaimed Marianne Boesky Gallery, opening in 2016, or Chicago staple Casterline|Goodman, which has called Aspen home for more than two years. It's almost hard to describe the primacy of art and other creative endeavors in Aspen. For decades writ- ers like James Salter, musicians like John Denver, and visual artists like Frank Stella (who was honored last summer at Anderson Ranch Arts Center) have focked here. They have impacted the legacy of Aspen just as much as the ski mountains have. So the fact that the Art Museum has implanted itself in the core of downtown is signifcant. The space it now occupies could have been developed into lucrative condos or retail space. Instead, engaged locals and donors insisted that art and ideas re- main, literally, at the center of the Aspen experience. Art collectors and outdoor enthusiasts alike might also notice something new and unusual happening on the slopes: people not just skiing down, but ski- ing up mountains like Ajax and Aspen Highlands. Referred to as "uphilling," it's the latest endurance sport to pique the interest of those seeking a man vs. mountain, thigh-wilting workout. Sports like up- hilling have become a cornerstone of Mayor Steve Skadron's vision for the area. With events like Amer- world, is, perhaps, the frst large and really tangible sign that aspen has found a new, good, and proftable way of life." The lift's single-seat chairs became two-seaters in 1971, when Lift 1a replaced the historic Lift-1. Today, those two-seat chairs are a romantic throwback to skiing's simpler, and slower, time. on powder days, when the line at the gondola snakes its way into the plaza, knowledgeable skiers queue at 1a, where they can lap the pillowy bumps and gladed runs on aspen's west side. When the snow is fast, riders can quietly sway their way up to the top of the Fis race course and mimic turns like those of the Fis World cup racers, who return every fall for the annual Winternational races over Thanksgiving. as World cup organizers gear up to take skiing's center stage to aspen, they've advocated for a new, faster lift to whisk skiers up the hill. This as-yet-unnamed successor, which is set to begin construction in the spring, will be the newest iteration in the lift's 70-year history. The neighborhood surrounding Lift 1a is in transition, as well, as several landowners are looking to build new properties and revitalize the sleepy side of town. Lift 1a is a reminder of aspen's long and illustrious history, and a source of pride. it passes over Roch Run, the frst trail to be etched into the mountain, charting a course that would forever change aspen's identity. it's a nod to the high standards that the town's engaged citizenry sets. and it's a symbol of distinction—something aspen continues to strive for as it looks toward the future. as the community collectively holds its breath to see how this area will progress, many hope there will be cause for champagne and celebration again. ica's Uphill, Aspen Skiing Company's The Power of Four ski mountaineering race, and the Aspen Uphill Festival, Aspen is slowly turning into an international hub for endurance and adventure races. And the boom has been felt in every sector. Retail sales in the city of Aspen were up 10 percent in 2014. The town's largest sector, accommodations, posted a 13 percent gain in 2014 over the previous year. Restau- rants and bars totaled $111.5 million in revenue over the same period of time, an 11 percent increase. And real estate sales topped $1.1 billion in 2014—the highest since 2007 and a whopping 39 percent increase over 2013. All of this taken together—the numbers, the World Cup, the museum, and more—represent a collective sigh of relief for those, like me, who care about the manifold nature of Aspen. Indeed, what makes me proud to be an Aspenite is no one thing. It's no single ski run, or festival, or restaurant. Rather, it's the aggregate of all of them. So as I fnished up my trip in Aspen, I felt a renewed sense of comfort and local pride that not even the Great Recession could change the defning spirit of my home- town—in fact, it's helped it to fourish. And as I drove on to Los Angeles, I thought: Bring on the World Cup Finals. Aspen is ready to do a little showing off. then & now