Kelly Clark launches to first place. Photos by Matt Murray and Tawnya Schultz If I had to rank the contests and events I’ve attended this season I’d definitely say the Covergirl Snow Angels Invitational stacks the top three. In its second year running Gretchen Bleiler and the Aspen matadors combined an all girls’ pipe competition, spa treatments and yoga sessions at the Snowmass Club, and a sweet dance party at Belly Up with Pretty Lights to create an unforgettable weekend. And of course the three days of pow didn’t hurt…bonus!First of all you should know a few items of business before I get into this if you don’t already. Aspen/Snowmass includes four resorts- Aspen, Highlands, Buttermilk, and Snowmass- each with its own sweet treats. The contest, majority of events, and most of the girls were located at Snowmass (Gretchen’s home mountain which is about 15 minutes outside of downtown Aspen.) Gretchen Bleiler, of course, is Aspen’s sweetheart who’s needless to say the most prominent figure in female snowboarding. The Snow Angels was her concept and Aspen helped make it happen. I, myself, was bunking in town at the Limelight Lodge– a refurbished historical Aspen centerpiece affordably priced and walking distance to one of the most world renowned resorts in the U.S. The place provides spacious rooms with kitchenettes, complimentary continental breakfast, and free wireless internet. The view from my room at the Limelight. Aspen Mountain. Nice sized rooms. Arriving early Thursday I decided to check out Buttermilk (the home to Winter X Games) and cruise the park since it was a bluebird relatively warm spring day. The park was still in prime condition and crazily empty. The views at the top and surrounding Aspen had me mystified. Highlands resort from the top of Buttermilk. The peaks behind Aspen resemble the Alps. Thursday evening there was a meet and greet at Sage Bar at the Snowmass Club. The plan was to freeride on Friday and tour Snowmass as we wish. Word from the weatherman called for a storm rolling in with more than a foot on the mountain in the am. Since the early bird catches the worm it was alarm clocks set and nighty, night for a day of unexpected fun. Yippie! The girls hit up yoga before the slopes. “Nike flew an awesome yoga teacher, Margo (Kellison), in to work with us every day,” said Flow and Nikita pro Clair Bidez. “That was definitely a highlight.” After finding their chi the girls enjoyed a day of slashing pow as did SNOWBOARD’s intern Heather Hendricks and I. It ended up being ridiculously good and the snow just kept falling all day. Yoga sesh. These trail maps on the chairlift are key to figuring out where you want to go. Um, powder much? Heather was stoked. Fresh tracks for days over here. After getting our necessary fix Gretchen and Oakley hosted a luncheon at Snowmass Club to educate us media folk on her 09/10 collection. The food at the luncheon was delicious. The media girls chattin’ it up before the presentation. Oakley’s heavy-hitters, Matt Murray and Matty Swanson, always hard at work. Some GB accessories. GB signature shades. Gretchen going over the design concepts of her outerwear. A few hours later Matt Murray, Heather and myself wandered the streets of Aspen to check out the haps. There is so much to see and plenty of bars to enjoy some après like the 39 Degrees at The Sky Hotel, Bentley’s at The Wheeler, and Ajax Tavern at The Little Nell conveniently located at the base of Aspen Mountain. I am feeling the new Ralph Lauren getups. Art galleries are everywhere in Aspen. This one was pretty sick. We kept it “mellow” that evening in order to wake up early for another powder day. First chair had no meaning which is pretty much incomprehensible at most resorts on a day like that. Shockingly it was a Saturday, a powder day, and a ghost town on the mountain. Heather and I had open runs of fresh for what seemed like an eternity. The contest was originally scheduled on Saturday but ended up postponed due to weather and visibility. Oh well…better luck tomorrow. Another day of shika pow pow. Couldn’t keep the smiles off our faces. Weee! Poppin’ all day. The bar at Junk in Snowmass. It’s pretty sick. They of course have an amazing junk food spread. Mmmm. That evening the contestants were treated to makeovers before the Pretty Lights show at Belly Up in downtown Aspen. “I never have time to pamper myself during the season,” said DC pro Molly Aguirre. “So, it was so refreshing to come to the Snow Angels contest and have time put away for us to get pampered with massages and facials. I also had a blast the night of the makeovers. It was so fun to all get our nails, hair and makeup done together by Covergirl and then head out on the town.” Molly Aguirre gets her hair did as part of the pampering. Gretchen enjoys some r and r during her manicure. The crew in the VIP at Belly Up. Gretchen and Liesl are the hot shit. Signature Snow Angels beverage selection. Meredith McKee from Aspen and Heather. Clair looked all glammed up after her Covergirl makeover. She’s so cute. Lookey, look who made an appearance…it’s Louie Vito. Pretty Lights getting the dance party started. He put on a really good show. Matty was feeling it and later told me he was trying to dance off his buzz…suuure. Reppin’ SLC all day Photog Stan Evans was in the house. Sunday, Sunday, Sunday…after a minor struggle to roll out of bed the blue skies had me up and at ‘em. Bluebird! The cowboys came to party. The Covergirl tent in the village was packed. After three days of stormy weather the clouds finally parted to gorgeousness and yes, another sick powder day. After some mandatory pow laps the afternoon called for the superpipe jam sesh with 15 of the world’s sickest females competing for a piece of the cash. After lapping as many runs as possible in an hour and a half the results were in; Kelly Clark taking first, Gretchen in second, and Ellery Hollingsworth, third. “The set up and format were awesome,” said Molly Aguirre. “I love “jam” formats for multiple reasons. I feel like the format creates less pressure for the riders and allows riders to get creative and progressive in their runs. As a spectator, I think it is more fun to watch because riders are throwing down runs and tricks they normally would not do in the two run format.” “I think all contest finals should be a jam format,” said Clair Bidez. “It allows for much more progression when competitors aren’t worried about landing everything in two runs. You see competitors willing to take more risks and you see a better show!” The girls chillin’ at the top of the pipe. Ellery ready to do the damn thing. Fuel TV was there filming the event for an upcoming show. Bleiler getting lifted. Linn Haug looking stylie. At just 17 years old Ellery Hollingsworth has her pipe game on lock. Bleiler flipping to second place. Youngest of the bunch Maddie Shaffrick already looks like a seasoned pro…and she’s only 14. It was Clair Bidez’s first contest after her heel injury and she was feeling great. The always smiling Bleiler strapping in on the pipe. Kaitlyn Farrington. Um, yeah, I go huge. That’s just kinda what I do. Clark boosting. Elley and Maddie hugging it out. Meg Pugh was all smiles and super stoked on the pipe. “It looks so fun. I just want to drop in right now. I hope we can get at least five runs.” The soon to be newlyweds- Chris Hotell and Gretchen. Doran Laybourn aka D-Tale was one of the judges. C.O. for life. Maddie accepting her best trick award for a switch backside 720. Podium status. Girl party! All in all I’d say the event came together perfectly. Besides the contest which was clearly amazing after this weekend I officially want to move to Aspen. Combine the town, the people, and insane mountains, I’m definitely sold. -Tawnya Related Links: Aspen/Snowmass Snowmass Club Limelight Lodge Belly Up Oakley