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Tuesday, 26 March 2002

Beginning April 5, 2002, Aspen will kick off its 2nd annual 180 Spring Jam, showcasing today's cutting edge skiing and snowboarding culture.   The festival features daily competitions, a free concert series, festival village, Shortsfest, parties, prizes and more. The 180 Aspen Spring Jam runs April 5-14, 2002 at Aspen Mountain.

Save up to 50 percent on lodging in April. Packages starting from $140/person include 3 nights lodging and a 2-day lift ticket per person (based on double occupancy). $39 lift tickets are available at the ticket window from April 1-14 with no lodging purchase necessary.   For lift andlodging packages call 1-877-622-7736 or to see these great lodging/lift packages visit http://www.stayaspensnowmass.com

The festival kicks off on April 5, with a special Shortsfest screening of "Ski Bums" at the Wheeler Opera House with showings at 6 p.m. & 9 p.m. April 6 is a day not to be missed with both the Wild Dash for Cash, the 3rd annual KickAspen Big Air Invitational and a free concert with Bouncing Souls.  Other competitions throughout the week include the Jib Jam, Speedcross, Slopestyle and the free Chris Klug Retro Fun Race on closing day.  

The Wild Dash for Cash has been called "Aspen's craziest ski race."  The racers all take off at once and make their way through a difficult course involving bumps, jumps, sprints and scaling walls of snow as competitorsscramble to the finish line to grab over $7,500 in prize money in this no-rules event. 

The KickAspen Big Air features the talents of 32 top professional skiers and snowboarders competing for $20,000 in prize money.  Thousands of spectators will line the course to watch pros like JF Cusson, Steele Spence, Andy Mercon, Chad Otterstom and Ryan Lougee wow them with huge air and incredible tricks.

The Free Concert Series takes place at the base of Aspen Mountain from 3-6 p.m. each day, April 6-14.  Bands playing include The Bouncing Souls, Blackeyed Peas, Ordinary K, The Motet and Boogie Machine among others. Musical styles will run from hip-hop to reggae to country western, alternative, funk and 70's retro.  The concerts will run in conjunction with the Bud Light Après Party each day.

Snowmass Banana Season, a springtime tradition dating back 16 years, runs March 31 through April 8.  Activities include the Bartender's Exotic Drink Contest, on-snow downhill kayak and mountain bike races, Wild Tube Races, the Great Banana Hunt and parties and awards ceremonies at the Cirque Bar and Grill.    As title sponsor of the 180 Spring Jam, 180 Energy Drink plans to energize the festival with plenty of parties, contests, prizes and product sampling. Anheuser-Busch has made a break from its core beer business with the release of this hot new energy drink. 180 is a balanced energy drink featuring the unique taste of all-natural guarana, and essential Vitamins C, B6, and B12 delivering the same level of energy as the leading brand in the category. 180 has superior taste versus competitive energy drinks. Aspen Mountain and Snowmass are scheduled to close on April 14. 

Aspen Highlands and Buttermilk are scheduled to close April 7, 2002.  For more information visit www.aspensnowmass.com or contact the Aspen Skiing Company events department at 970-925-1220 ext. 3233. www.aspensnowmass.com