Action sports make their home at Buttermilk Mountain again this January, as the ESPN X Games bring the world's cutting-edge skiers, snowboarders, and other athletes right to the doorstep of Timbers Resorts' luxury private residence clubs at Dancing Bear Aspen and the Timbers Club.

In its 12th year on the slopes, many well-known X Games faces will be back: Snowboarding star Shaun White, Snowmobile standout Tucker Hibbert, Ski hero Tom Wallisch and others. Check the full list of athletes on the X Games website.
A fresh, new face will be appearing front and center this month as the host of the global X Games circuit: Ramona Bruland. The Aspen local and Aussie native has been a familiar fixture in the Aspen Snowmass area for several years as a host on Plum TV. She makes the giant leap to ESPN with this January's Winter Games and the support of friends from the Roaring Fork Valley and beyond.

There are all kinds of additional surprises in store this year, and so, in the run-up to the action, we turn to the hottest moments and unbelievable records from last year's action.

On the Trail of 2012: Remarkable Moments

Aspen 2012 was very much about honoring the achievements of the late, great Canadian Sarah Burke, a world renowned freestyle skier who passed away shortly before the Aspen events convened.

In a sense, many of the accomplishments that came out of last January's competitions were infused with the spirit of that 29-year-old phenom.
— It was the Canadians who scooped up a special honor in Burke's name. Her teammate Roz Groenewoud nabbed the country's first gold in the wake of the tragedy. And Burke's teammate Kaya Turski notched a nearly flawless ski run in the champion's honor as well.

A lot of perfection showed up on the slopes.
— Take Shaun White's snowboarding perfect score. Carving up a super-pipe with an injured ankle, he still managed to tick every box in the competition ranking: 100 out of 100 points.

— Torstein Horgmo also logged a perfect snowboarding score with dramatic new spins, including a triple cork spin that sent ripples through riders' worlds.

X Games Aspen by the Numbers

It wasn't just the athletes and the stories that caught enthusiasts' attention last time. The 2012 games marked the record second-highest attendance in the history of the event — some 108,000 attendees showed up to watch.

If you're thinking of coming — making a day-by-day breakdown (courtesy of Aspen Daily News) should help you plan things this coming year.

— In 2012, crowds peaked on Saturday at 45,000.

— Sunday was the second busiest, at 26,800 people.

— Thursday and Friday were lighter days: 16,200 and 20,000 respectively.

So, set your schedules. X Games Aspen 2013 is scheduled for Jan. 24 through Jan 27. The full schedule is now online.
And leave some time each day for entertainment such as DJ Calvin Harris at Belly Up Aspen and Major Lazer at Buttermilk.

Another ideal way to unwind is enjoying your own luxurious finishing line at Dancing Bear Aspen for a bit of post-game relaxation — running the numbers and the highlights of your own over a plate and glass at Brexi Brasserie as the perfect way to recap the action.

See you on the slopes!

To discover the X-traordinary lifestyle at Dancing Bear Aspen, visit our site, stop by our Sales Gallery at 411 South Monarch Street in Aspen, or contact us via phone at 970.925.2510 or via email at [email protected].

When you think of America’s top chefs, a lot of things might come to mind: Mario Batali’s orange Crocs and Thomas Keller’s starched kitchen whites. Bechamel and butter. Foie Gras and fondue. Flames and passions and the struggle of trying to get a reservation at Matsuhisa, Cache Cache or one of Aspen's top restaurants at the start of the summer season.

What probably doesn’t come up, or at least perhaps not immediately, is physical exercise – much less an early,  winding foot race. But at this year’s Food & Wine Classic in Aspen from June 14 - 16, one of the top events will be just that: a brisk5K run, starting at 7 AM, and hosted by celebrity chef Bobby Flay.

What could possibly get America’s best and brightest toques out of bed and into their running shoes while many of the Food & Wine Classic’s participants are still sleeping off the previous evening’s kick-off parties? The short answer is a good cause: Flay’s 5K raises money to support Wholesome Wave, a charity that supports small farms and works to bring fresh, locally-grown produce to some of America’s lesser fortunate .

It’s hard to imagine a charity that would be closer to a chef’s heart: in 28 states, Wholesome Wave takes on America’s worst food struggles at both ends of the process. On the production side, it partners with some of America’s remaining privately-owned farms, helping them find outlets to sell their produce. On the opposite side, it helps bring food to neighborhoods that often don’t have access to fresh fruits and vegetables.

But even apart from the good cause, there are few better places to work up an appetite. The 5K begins just a few blocks away from Dancing Bear Aspen - A Timbers Resorts Residence Club. The start/finish is in Rio Grande Park, loops through Aspen’s tony West End neighborhood, through the Aspen Meadows Resort and down the Rio Grande Trail back to the park. Along the course, runners will take in views of Aspen’s stunning mountains, the breathtaking landscape that served as the inspiration for former local John Denver’s “Rocky Mountain High.”

If that’s not reason enough for joining in the run, there are the rest of the participants. Last year’s 5K featured some of the nation’s top foodsmiths, including Chefs Marcus Samuelsson, Richard Blaise and, of course, Flay himself. Top Chef star Spike Mendelsohn tried to make it, but later admitted that he was unable to drag himself out of bed. As for Top Chef star Fabio Viviani, it’s hard to say if he actually ran the race: he showed up and traveled the route…in a wagon that was pulled by another runner!

Bobby Flay’s 5K will run from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. on June 14. Early bird registration is $30, and includes an official registration bag and C-9 tee. If you’re in the area, come out to support a great cause, meet some of America’s best chefs, and work up an appetite for America’s premier food festival!

To learn more about ownership opportunities at Dancing Bear Aspen, please contact us at 855.920.2510 (toll free in the US) or 970.920.2510 (direct) or via email at [email protected].

Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is officially a day of remembrance for those who lost their lives while in the U.S. armed services. Unofficially, Memorial Day kicks off the summer season and there’s no better way to take advantage of the long weekend (May 25 – 27, 2013) and warm weather than with a visit to a Timbers Resorts boutique hotel or luxury residence club.

The classic Memorial Day activity is, of course, a good old-fashioned American barbeque. Plenty of Timbers properties  — Esperanza Resort, One Steamboat Place and Dancing Bear Aspen to name a few — offer the opportunity to do your own grilling. The private club Mayacama in nearby Sonoma is the hot spot for families with a Saturday, Memorial Day Barbecue at the Swim & Tennis, with food and activities to keep parents and children of all ages entertained. The same weekend, the resort also hosts the Mayacama Cup Match Play Championship, making it the ultimate time for golfers to pay a visit.

Finally, just because Memorial Day is an American holiday, it doesn’t mean you can’t celebrate abroad. It’s the perfect time to head to Castello di Casole in Tuscany where you can raise a glass at the Visconti Cocktail Party, thrown in honor of the the period when Mr. Luchino Visconti was producing famous films and hosting epic cocktail parties at the estate. Throw back a classic cocktail or try the weekly mixology.

Learn more about Timbers Resorts and ways to celebrate your holidays by contacting us via email at [email protected] or by phone, 888.366.6641.

An Annual Bike Series With Two of Our Colorado Properties
Tuesday, June 25 | Tuesday, July 23 | Tuesday, August 6

On your mark, get set, ride! Join the second season of the Tour de Timbers and enjoy beautiful Colorado with a bike trip from One Steamboat Place to The Sebastian - Vail – offered once a month this summer from June through August.

Led by Venture Sports, “the friendliest ski and bike shop in Colorado” and Timbers Resorts ambassadors, the Tour de Timbers offers a biking experience like none other. Options are to leave from One Steamboat Place and ride to The Sebastian - Vail for a 91-mile route or, for a shorter version around 60 miles, leave from Steamboat's Catamount Lake, and end in Wolcott at the Yacht Club.  For those who choose the full distance to Vail, you’ll have the option to hop a ride in the support van back to One Steamboat Place or stay the night at Vail's finest private residence club, Residences at The Sebastian, for preferred rates. Either way, you'll be experiencing the best of what both Colorado luxury resorts have to offer.

To take part in the monthly ride, it's just $40 per person, which includes Venture Sports' SAG wagon support, snacks, and transportation back to Steamboat. Demo bike rentals can be arranged through Venture Sports as well.

Post-ride, soothe your muscles with a special $91 “91-Mile Treatment” at The Sebastian’s Bloom Spa. During this firm and nurturing massage, your feet are exfoliated then slathered with a soothing balm and snuggled into warm booties. Once your feet are warm and relaxed the therapist will massage away any remaining tension. If you opt to return to Steamboat instead, The Spa at One Steamboat Place offers a special 50-minute massage for $98.

To register or for more information, please contact One Steamboat Place's reservations team at [email protected] or 970.870.5100.

To learn more about Timbers Resorts, please contact us at 800.941.4579 (toll free) or 970.963.4626 (direct) or via email at [email protected].

Snowmass Village may not be the same skiers' mecca during the warmest months of the year, but it's still a prime destination for lovers of the outdoors and cool culture.

For 19 years, the Snowmass Village Free Summer Concerts series has been thrilling visitors and locals alike — not to mention Owners and guests a quick shuttle ride over from Dancing Bear Aspen — with its electrifying mix of genres, from rock and dance, to jazz and soul. The stunning backdrop of high-mountain countryside certainly doesn't hurt either!

This year is no exception. Whether you're spending a few summer weeks at a Timbers Resorts' luxury fractional residence, or just popping in for a long weekend, take a look at what's in store this summer for Thursday night concerts in Snowmass. Music starts at 6:15pm at the Village Mall on Snowmass Mountain, so get out your calendars out and start planning your accommodations, there is no better time than now to be here!

2013 Snowmass Village Free Summer Concert Dates

June 20 – Freddy Jones Band: If you love The Band, you're going to like this band too. Roots rock in the classic American tradition.

June 27 – The Dunwells: English folk rock that rose up from the pubs of Leeds to worldwide touring. One part acoustic, one part electric — get ready for five-part harmonies!

July 5 – C.J. Chenier & the Red Hot Louisiana Band: What would outdoor summer music be without some zydeco in the mix? C.J. Chenier's got the pedigree for the task; he's the son of Clifton Chenier, the first Creole musician to win a Grammy.

July 11 – The Revivalists: Songwriting is at the forefront of this band's performances, along with layered and complex rock arrangements.

July 18 – Mountain Standard Time: It's time for some innovative bluegrass on the slopes. Expect a big, jammy experience.

July 25 – J. Boog: Genuine Jamaican reggae, fronted by a multicultural songsmith.

August  1 – Tab Benoit: It's back to the bayou for some Cajun blues. Straight out of Louisiana, bluesman Benoit learned from the legends before taking his act on the road.

August 8 – Nigel Hall: A funky and soulful ensemble with high energy sure to get you off your feet.

August 15 – Robert Walters 20th Congress: A keys- and piano-driven excursion into the heart of dance and jazz.

Remember that this is live music, and that with live acts comes the possibility that schedules will change. Be certain to check the Snowmass music series website for updates.

To learn more about Timbers Resorts, please contact us at 800.941.4579 (toll free) or 970.963.4626 (direct) or via email at [email protected].