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Chicks on sticks stick to Aspen

Jeanne McGovern
The Aspen Times
Aspen, CO, Colorado

ASPEN – Gentlemen, take notice: Aspen is the place for a girls trip – at least in the eyes of Ski Magazine.

“Ours are simple needs, really. (Go ahead, guys, roll your eyes.) But seriously, we can sum up all our vacation criteria – from fresh seaweed salad to fresh tracks under sunny skies – in one word: Aspen,” noted the magazine’s editors in naming Aspen the top-ranked girls’ trip as part of its 2011-12 Reader Resort Survey Awards. “And how’s this for low maintenance? We’ll be so busy drinking wine, laughing, shopping, spa-ing and, oh yeah, skiing, you won’t even need to call.”

The accolade was pointed out by Skico senior vice president David Perry during Tuesday’s Aspen Chamber Resort Association board meeting. Perry also noted that Snowmass received a No. 1 ranking in the “Best Family Programs” category.



“This is a tribute to the kids’ ski school at Snowmass. For many years they have been the best, and now they have the facility to match their excellence and passion for teaching kids to ski and ride,” said Skico spokesman Jeff Hanle. “This could also be the readers recognizing the incredible array of off-hill activities for kids and families.”

Hanle said those off-the-hill activities are likely what pushed Aspen to the top of female readers’ minds when it came to choosing a great getaway.




“Aspen/Snowmass combines amazing skiing and riding across four mountains with the nightlife, spas, dining and shopping that is unmatched in the ski world. This gives women who want to rip during the day, the opportunity to pamper and spoil themselves at night,” he said. “It is really a tribute to both the on-hill and off-hill amenities that we offer here.”

(For the record, Aspen didn’t score as well with guys looking for an escape: Jackson Hole, Wyo., was the top-ranked “boys’ trip”; here’s how Ski Magazine’s sees it: “You and the boys hiss huge lines through Hobacks pow all day, drain pitchers at the Moose and then carve up 22-ounce rib eyes at the Million Dollar Cowboy Steakhouse. Bro-hug, anyone?)

These top honors were not the only ones bestowed on Aspen this fall. TransWorld Snowboarding ranked Aspen/Snowmass No. 1. In Ski Magazine’s overall rankings, Snowmass moved up two notches from last year to fourth place. Aspen Mountain and Aspen Highlands both fell, however, coming in 11th and 19th, respectively; the results are based on 20,000 reader surveys.

jmcgovern@aspentimes.com