Winter X Games 2022
Athletes from around the world returned to Aspen to showcase their talents in the second largest internationally televised winter sporting event of 2022, behind the Olympics. Crowds returned to the base areas and I was back in the saddle as the Buttermilk Mountain Winter X Games Lead, championing ski patrol planning, operations and logistics. With time tracking, one could argue I was doing a little finance/admin as well :)
It truly takes a world-class team to put on a world-class event! I am humbled to represent Aspen Skiing Company’s Buttermilk Ski Patrol alongside these veteran staff from ESPN, Aspen Ambulance, Aspen Valley Hospital, and a host of other agencies and departments that come together to overcome anything that stands in the way of delivering the highest level of athlete medical care in the venue.
Every year, the medical team walks and skis through each venue. We mark medical entrance and exit gates, assess the venue build, determine evacuation routing for injured athletes, and provide everyone an opportunity to appreciate the size and scale of the features the athletes are using.
Combining on-site discovery and conversations with the Medical Action Plan and institutional knowledge, I begin working with our Ski Patrol leadership to build experience and depth for the event. I delegate equipment logistics and some other tasks to give our team members a stronger sense of ownership and more importantly to build their skills for other events we host throughout the season.
While snow during live TV is a boon for Aspen Skiing Company bookings, it can greatly disrupt the venues. The athletes rely on the courses being fast and consistent. Snow changes that.
Thankfully, the parks crew and Snow Park Technologies cat crews were able to make quick work of the accumulation and keep things moving!
With base area crowds under the lights, things felt a little closer to ‘normal’ this year.
I can’t wait to see what X Games 2023 has in store!
The final team photo after the last competition. Always a delightful occasion.