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‘Buttermilk Glacier’ returns

AVSC staff report
The "Buttermilk Glacier" will be used again for late season training. Last year, despite a low snowpack, AVSC skiers and riders were able to get the most out of the mountain and trained on snow until there was only a sliver left.
Madeleine Osberger/Special to The Aspen Times |

The wealth of snow produced for the Winter X Games will be put to good use later this spring, as the section of the mountain that’s been termed the “Buttermilk Glacier” once again returns to life.

AVSC’s freestyle and freeride athletes will utilize the glacier for week-long camps in June and possibly later, weather permitting.

The on-snow component will augment dryland training and skill development on the AVSC “supertramp.”



As currently envisioned, the team members will practice Mondays on the glacier, which should offer coaches an idea about the week’s training plan.

The next two days may be spent back at the club, where athletes will work on conditioning and skill refinement.




By Thursday, it’s back to the hill for additional work on the air bags, rails and boxes.

A mogul course could also be built on the glacier. Details are expected to be forthcoming later this week, with a close eye being kept on temperatures and the affect the red dust is having on snowpack.

“The dust storm is melting the snow a lot faster than we expected,” said Susan Cross, Buttermilk’s mountain manager. But she believes there are still “spots with probably 20 feet of snow” as a base.

The current halfpipe eventually will be rolled out by snowcats to provide a surface for jumps and rails. Snowboarders are expected to have training time on the hill as well.

In past years, alpine skiers trained giant slalom and slalom gates on the glacier.

Aspen Skiing Co.’s decision to reopen Aspen Mountain for two bonus weekends may be satisfy some of those training needs. A final decision is still in the offing.

This particular partnership between AVSC and Skico is now in its third year.

“We’ve got the snow and we’d like to continue to use it, rather than seeing it melt away. We’d love to say (Buttermilk) made it until the Fourth of July,” Cross said.

For more information on any of the club’s spring or summer camps, check out teamavsc.org.

Excellence in athletics

During the annual All Team Awards Banquet at Belly Up, the following individuals and organizations were recognized for their dedication to sport, excellence in athleticism and/or service to AVSC:

Tage Pedersen Commitment Award

(Presented to an athlete who demonstrates his or her commitment through stellar attendance and outstanding physical fitness.)

Snowboard: Isabella Borenstein, Logan Lauffer

Alpine: Hayden Fake, Jack Bowers

Freestyle: Carver Brown, Isaac Musselman

Nordic: Nick Sweeney, Chelsea Moore

Robert Oden Teamwork Award

(Given to athletes who demonstrate a consistently high level of support for all teammates throughout the season.)

Snowboard: Jack Linehan, Robert Sanderson

Alpine: Hanna Mass, Gordon Davies

Freestyle: Jackson Ferraro, Nick Mitchell

Nordic: Nina Beidleman, Benny Smith

Integrity Award

(Presented to an athlete who demonstrates integrity in their interactions with everyone both on and off the hill.)

Snowboard: Kelanii Scarpaci, Richard Argueta

Alpine: Alphonse Fischer, Devan McSwain

Freestyle: Colby Lee, Aaron Lee, Kate Citron

Nordic: Leigh Sandbach, Colt Whitley

Gale Spence Excellence in Coaching:

(Awarded to a coach who demonstrates a commitment to excellence throughout the season.)

Snowboard: Josh Ganz

Alpine: Austin Nevins

Freestyle: Justin Vassar

Nordic: Ben Dodge

Bob Beattie Award

(Given to the ski pro who has demonstrated outstanding dedication to the Base Camp program over a span of several years.)

Colin Waterman

Ruth Whyte Outstanding Volunteer

(Given to a volunteer demonstrating outstanding commitment and dedication to AVSC throughout the season.)

Snowboard: Lise Adams

Alpine: Candice Clauss

Freestyle: Caryn Goralka

Nordic: Craig Ward

Base Camp: Cecilia Sanchez

Stirling Cooper Award

(Given to an athlete who demonstrates integrity and a pure spirit of love for, and dedication to, the sport.)

Snowboard: MJ Mirano

Alpine: Anna Patterson

Freestyle: Andrew Tierney

Nordic: Hannah Dodge

Pursuit of Excellence

(The following athletes were recognized for their drive to excel in their sport while at the same time being a role model for AVSC’s core values.)

Snowboard: Jake Orzech

Alpine: Nick Mitchell

Freestyle: Keenan McIntyre

Nordic: Hailey Swirbul

Andy Mill Award

(Awarded to an athlete who has achieved outstanding national and/or international results.)

Nordic skier Hailey Swirbul.

Willoughby Award

(Given to the athlete who demonstrates outstanding achievement in athletes and academics.)

Nordic skier Sophie Stuber. Other finalists included Sonja Gagen, Brooks Gorsuch and Jake Orzech.

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