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Aspen Snowmass is counting down the days until the 2011/12 season opens, with a recent dusting turning peaks white in a tease of what’s to come.
“Just as Fall colours are at their peak, a dusting of perfect white snow atop the four mountains of Aspen-Snowmass makes a good thing look even better!” says International Public Relations Manager Lea Tucker.
From mid next week, it is 40 days until Aspen Mountain and Snowmass opens November 24, with Highlands and Buttermilk following suite on December 10.

This recent dusting comes on the heels of The Meeting, an annual Aspen event considered one of the biggest within the ski industry, bringing athletes, companies and sponsors together.
Over three days last week, new release movies were shown by Matchstick Productions, Teton Gravity Research, 1241 Productions and new lines exhibited by Burton, Smith, Oakley, Volcom, Analog, Bonfire, 686, Anon, Skullcandy, Special Blend, Dragon, Voleurz, Electric and more.
As pro rider and Aspen local Steele Spence says, “It brings everyone in, ski, board – both sides, films, all the athletes and it’s not just films but activities like open forums and meetings sessions. It really is my favourite event of the year. It’s unbelievable”.
Visit www.aspensnowmass.com/themeeting.

Veuve Clicquot returns to Thredbo this August for Clicquot in the Snow 2011, celebrating two of life’s great pleasures, Veuve Clicquot and après ski. Undoubtedly, the highlight of this year’s winter celebration will be the inaugural Clicquot Tube-a-Thon, a celebrity event with a Clicquot twist. In the afternoon of Friday August 5, a brave crew of celebrities and participants will cut a swathe down the mountain into Friday Flat on their limited-edition Veuve Clicquot snow tubes. For the less adventurous, there is the opportunity to toast a great day of tubing with a chilled flute of Veuve Clicquot at another of this year’s exciting additions, the pop-up Clicquot Snow Bar on Friday Flat.
The Clicquot Tube-a-Thon made a global debut in Vail in January with Aussie actress Abbie Cornish as its host. In Thredbo, guests can cheer on celebrities including Luke Jacobz, Rachael Finch, Michael Miziner, Jodi Meares, Luke Ricketson and Daimon Downey as they battle it out on the mountain, tongues firmly in their cheeks, on their Veuve Clicquot snow tubes.
Clicquot in the Snow is the highlight of the snow calendar, a week-long winter festival of fabulous Veuve Clicquot activities and experiences unfolds in and around Thredbo. The village literally turns “Clicquot yellow”, with bars and clubs decked out in their Clicquot décor and each day, there is brunch on the mountain, fabulous après ski sessions and an action-packed programme of Clicquot –inspired events to participate in.

Clicquot in the Snow kicks off each day with delicious Clicquot On Piste Brunch Sessions on the mountain at the legendary Kareela Hűtte. And after the day’s skiing, you can come off the mountain and spend the afternoon sipping on Veuve Clicquot at the Clicquot Après-Ski Sessions at the Thredbo Alpine Hotel. For those with a culinary bent, there are delicious Clicquot Degustation Dinners and the Clicquot In The Snow Picnic, a gourmet picnic hosted by The Denman Hotel & Spa on Saturday, set amidst the breathtaking Alpine scenery at Dead Horse Gap. The week will conclude with the Clicquot Classic Ski Race, a downhill race for enthusiastic skiers and snowboarders with plenty of off-piste action for the Clicquot enthusiasts as well.
Clicquot in the Snow began in Aspen in 2007 and has grown in popularity, with the best bars, clubs and restaurants joining in this fabulous celebration of winter. For the second year, Veuve Clicquot will partner with Thredbo Alpine Hotel and The Denman Hotel & Spa to ensure that the event is the highlight of the ski season with seven fun-packed, luxurious days. To purchase tickets to any of the Clicquot in the Snow 2011 experiences please visit www.thredbo.com.au.
To register for the Clicquot Tube-a-Thon, please contact The Denman Hotel and Spa on +61 2 6457 6222 or on info@thedenman.com.au.