© 2024 Aspen Public Radio
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Pros Train Alongside Local Racers At Aspen Highlands

Alex Hager
/
Aspen Public Radio

As the professional ski season gets underway, some of the world’s best racers have been training at Aspen Highlands. The list of skiers who trained on Golden Horn in the early season includes the Swiss men’s alpine team and American star Mikaela Shiffrin. 

On a recent weekday morning, Norwegian standout Henrik Kristoffersen was taking some practice runs high above the Roaring Fork Valley. Kristofferson is the reigning world champion in giant slalom, a two-time Olympic medalist and among the favorites on this season’s FIS Alpine World Cup.

 

 

Credit Alex Hager / Aspen Public Radio
/
Aspen Public Radio
Henrik Kristoffersen races down Golden Horn during an early season training session at Aspen Highlands.

With some of the biggest names in the sport training at Highlands, Aspen Valley Ski and Snowboard Club members have had a chance to share a course with their role models.

“When I'm training next to these guys,” said 17-year-old AVSC skier Elle Murphy. “It makes me feel like I can do what they're doing and makes me feel like I'm just one step closer.”

 

Alex is KUNC's reporter covering the Colorado River Basin. He spent two years at Aspen Public Radio, mainly reporting on the resort economy, the environment and the COVID-19 pandemic. Before that, he covered the world’s largest sockeye salmon fishery for KDLG in Dillingham, Alaska.
Related Content