CON GAMES RADIO: 'Why The Dali Lama Matters,' Burlingate, Chris Klug

An eclectic mix from the Con Man: Robert Thurman, author of "Why The Dali Lama Matters," the father of actress Uma Thurman; then a rant on City officials blaming him for a rumor; and finally a visit from Aspen Olympian snowboarder Chris Klug, with news of his foundation to promote organ donation.

Click here for the complete "Con Games with Michael Conniff" for Monday July 21, 2008.

Add comment July 21st, 2008

CON GAMES 24/7: AVSC, Democrats Rally

The Con Man welcomes the Aspen Valley Ski and Snowboarding Club back to the program, then explains why the conventional wisdom that said Democrats would be damanged by the primaries was so completely wrong. 

Click here for the complete "Con Games with Michael Conniff" for Tuesday June 10,2008.

Add comment June 11th, 2008

Ski Town Paradox

In this piece, I hope to dispel a wildly held myth about life in a ski town, which is, if you live in a ski town you ski all the time. The fact is, for me at least, you ski less. I moved to Aspen six years ago and have yet to surpass the number of days I skied each year when I lived in Florida.

Continue Reading 1 comment February 2nd, 2008

Winter X Games Aspen

Team ESPN Kicks Off Winter X Games
Dear Casey,Team ESPN will be hosting the second annual “Don’t Give Up” snowboard auction that will raise funds and awareness for The V Foundation for Cancer Research. Blank snowboards, donated by O-Matic Snowboards for a second consecutive year, have been designed by professional athletes and highly acclaimed artists to be auctioned in conjunction with Winter X Games 12.Seven boards will be up for bidding via silent auction from January 23 through 27 at three locations in Aspen: The Aspen Club, The Cantina and the Winter X Games 12 VIP tent at Buttermilk Mountain. An additional six boards will be available for bidding on eBay from January 24 through February 3. Three boards on display on www.expn.com (left to right): renowned artists Jim Mahfood, Noah and Taylor Reeve “Over the past 15 years, ESPN has been proud to support The V Foundation for Cancer Research, an organization that has made a tremendous impact on the lives of anyone who has been touched by cancer directly or indirectly,” said Juliet Gilliam, ESPN Senior Director, Corporate Outreach. “We are excited to be able to host the second annual snowboard auction and it is our sincere hope that this will provide an opportunity to increase awareness regarding the V Foundation among audiences of all ages who enjoy watching and participating in the Winter X Games.” The snowboards will be on display at The Aspen Club, The Cantina and the Winter X Games VIP tent will feature the work of artists David Swift, Max Grundy, Jay Alders, Jim Mahfood and Taylor Reeve, as well as two snowboards autographed by Winter X Games athletes. Bidding will close on January 27 at 8 p.m. MT at The Aspen Club, 9 p.m. MT at the VIP tent and 10 p.m. MT at The Cantina. The eBay auction will feature boards painted by professional snowboarders Tricia Byrnes and Chanelle Sladics, and artists Noah, MarcoArt, Mark Richmond, and Hart & Huntington Tattoo Company’s Orlando. These boards will be available for bidding at http://stores.ebay.com/ESPN-Auctions concluding on February 3 at 7 p.m. MT.  All winners of the silent and online auctions will be notified directly. For more information and updates on the silent auction, please visit www.jimmyv.org and www.EXPN.com. About The V Foundation for Cancer Research The V Foundation for Cancer Research was founded in 1993 by ESPN and the late Jim Valvano, legendary North Carolina State basketball coach and ESPN commentator. Since 1993, The Foundation has raised more than $70 million to fund cancer research grants nationwide. It awards 100 percent of all new direct cash donations and net proceeds of events directly to cancer research and related programs. The Foundation, which has received five consecutive top 4-star ratings from Charity Navigator, awards grants through a competitive awards process strictly supervised by a Scientific Review Committee. For more information on The V Foundation or to make a donation, please visitwww.jimmyv.org. About Team ESPN Team ESPN encompasses ESPN’s multi-faceted corporate outreach programs including volunteerism, corporate giving and cause marketing, while utilizing its diverse media assets.  Through Team ESPN, ESPN, its employees, and its fans work together to make a difference in our world and the communities in which we live.  Team ESPN. . .Fans Helping Fans.  www.teamespn.com. Visit www.espnmediazone.com for ESPN’s latest releases, schedules and other news, plus photos, video and audio clips and more.	Click here to watch Jimmy V’s famous ESPY award speech

Add comment January 24th, 2008

CON GAMES: I Hate The X Games

Aspen is so cool and hip that it would be outrageously uncool and bodaciously unhip to admit that I really hate the X Games. To say so makes me feel like a traitor to my home base—and worse—because I find myself (again) in the position of insisting Aspen is not nearly so cool as it thinks.

Continue Reading 2 comments January 23rd, 2008

When does the horse leave the barn?

I was sniffing around the internet for local news when I came upon this story about a new contraption that’s supposed to keep you safe in the event you find yourself being overtaken by an avalanche. In a week that has brought us two fatalities on separate occasions in the East Vail chutes, and a GSPI feature about some hair-raising backcountry travel by one group of intrepid locals, I learn of a device that takes charge of an avalanche critical moments before a beacon has a chance to be useful: the Avalance Airbag System.

Continue Reading Add comment January 13th, 2008

Boy Named Bobby In Tahoe

Sure, it was my idea, as it usually always is. It turned out very well, incredibly well, actually. I couldn't have asked for more. I had this incredible lake to my right, and a serious vertical ski slope a hundred yards in front of me as I soaked in the hot tub on our third floor balcony. This was about as close to Heaven on earth as i could summise.

First of all, my first name is indeed Bobby. The girls always loved that name. My mother, as screwed up as she is, is probably the only person who ever actually called me Bobby. Personally, I hated that name. I thought it too feminine, too gayish, too, ... well not worthy of a guy as comfortable on a horse as I was running over defensive backs. Yet, as I come to grips with turning 40 next month, I am also coming to grips with much more. Honestly? I like the name Bobby. Kind of sexy isn't it? Hah.

Continue Reading Add comment November 30th, 2007

Are you kidding me?

I read the article in today's local paper about the X Games ending the concerts in the park. What the bleep are you thinking? "I would say concerts were taking on a life of their own, but I still think they complemented (the games)," Stiepock. Duh! But you still decide to end them? It is such a great event for town. It creates tremendous energy in the core all weekend long.

But by far the stupidest and most ridiculous comment is this, "You can't bring that band (Dave Matthews) in without having half the Front Range show up in town," Stiepock said. Hello isn't that what we want. Last I looked we are a tourist town and we love when people come to Aspen to ski, stay in our hotels and visit our stores.

Continue Reading Add comment November 29th, 2007

'Little Green Lies' From Skico

"Little Green Lies" reads the headline in BusinessWeek. "The sweet notion that making a company environmentally friendly can be not just cost-effective but profitable is going up in smoke. Meet the man wielding the torch."

The man, of course, is Auden Schendler of Aspen Skiing Company, and his remarks about whether being green really works for the resort will almost definitely raise your thermostat. 

Add comment October 25th, 2007

Ouch, Ski Conditioning!

After 17 years of teaching here at the club Amy Knight is on top of her game. And don’t think you’ll get away with slacking off either because she is watching every move you make. So come ready to sweat and work your butt off.

Continue Reading Add comment October 15th, 2007