Team AVSC News

The 16th annual Audi Ajax Cup brought elite racing, fellowship, community cheer, and a reignited passion for youth winter sports to Aspen Mountain last Tuesday, December 30. This critical annual fundraiser for Aspen Valley Ski & Snowboard Club raised over $1.7 million, including $100,000 from AVSC Board President Beth Hoff Blackmer in memory of her late mother, Ruthie. 

“The Audi Ajax Cup has always been about great skiing and giving back, and this year the community took it to another level by setting a new fundraising record,” said Executive Director August Teague. “By coming together like this, we get more kids on snow, give more kids the chance to discover their inner voice, and help them know that this community believes in them. That matters far beyond any race day.” 

The annual fundraiser kicked off December 28 with a pro draw where 16 teams bid for one of 16 pros to join their team. Professional racer Daron Rahlves was the highest-priced pro purchased by Team Kids First at $55,000. Aspen Snowmass CEO Geoff Buchheister was the night’s second pick, going to Team Go Fast or Go Home. Nolan Kasper was snatched up third by Team Roll Tide. 

On Monday, teams set their qualifying runs. Jacob Dilling was the top seeded athlete followed by current U.S. Ski Team member Stanley Buzek and former team member Cooper Cornelius. Three Buchheisters, including Geoff and his children Stella, a Division I DU ski racer, and Luka, an AVSC athlete who placed second in two Holiday Classic races earlier this year, made the top 20, as did Olympic hopeful Wiley Maple. Current AVSC athletes Parker Kendrick, Devon Phillips, and Alaska Speedy made the top 20, while AVSC coaches Galena Wardle, Casey Puckett, Annie Tansley, Kiersten Kirby, George Rodney, and Kelly Hilleke, who will soon be heading out on the Freeride World Tour, raced, as did board member Gordon Bronson and past board president Ryan Smalls. After the qualifying runs, teams spent the rest of the day with their pros and getting some training tips from AVSC’s legendary advocate and racer, Dave Stapleton. 

"The event could not have been better, between the weather, the teams, and the enthusiasm,” said Stapleton. “The number of teams who have signed up again for next year is unprecedented.” 

On Tuesday morning, the actual race kicked off to bluebird sky conditions. Famed Tour de France commentator Bob Roll raced for Team Ice Jets, while Team Hildebrand, made up of AVSC’s freeride athletes, bucked the racing suit trend and brought a little levity to the scene by racing in sleeveless jean jacket outfits. 

Aspen racing dynasties were well-represented. Mariel Gorsuch, an AVSC alumnus and granddaughter of Renie Gorsuch, the subject of this year’s winning poster, raced for Team Third Point. Four Cader family members raced for Team Ice Ice Baby, and father-son duo Mike and Wiley Maple raced on Team Explore Snowriders. Wiley Maple, the team’s pro, is in the midst of his own Olympic Alpine bid. Other Team Snowrider racers included Eric Andersen, the lead musician of AMA5 who performed later at the St. Regis, Andrea Korber, Tim Mills, and Kevin Hartmann. Hartmann has raced with this team every year of the Audi Ajax Cup since he was a young athlete. Together the team advanced to the finals, ultimately edging out Team Chicks Get Lit to win the day. Each winner received a silver Hays belt buckle and will have their name engraved on the famed Gorsuch Cup. 

Throughout the race, the live action was reported by a colorfully decked out fan favorite Uncle E in tandem with former AVSC snowboard athlete Travis McClain and Ted Davenport, whose son Eli raced for Gershel’s Grommets. In addition to the pros, approximately a dozen current AVSC comp racers competed, including Fritz Rowland, age 7, Molly Layne, age 6, and West Wick, age 7. This threesome participated in a special kids race for AVSC’s newest U8 Alpine program.  

“It was a great little race to watch, and we were excited to highlight the next generation of talent,” said AVSC Alpine Program Director Jeff Lackie. Another hallmark moment for Lackie was spying pro racer Daron Rahlves, arguably one of the greatest American racers of all time, up on the hill helping to dismantle the course after the event. 

“It’s emblematic of who we are at AVSC. No one asked him to do that,” Lackie said. “He chose to help out and be a part of the event. It says a lot about Daron and also about AVSC and the kind of club we are.” 

Once the racing finished, the action moved to the St. Regis après party. Tasty morsels ranging from a donated caviar station to churros served suspended from an umbrella kept the crowd happy and fed, while AMA5 and DJ Naka G kept the dance music flowing as swiftly as the cocktails. As the light dimmed, the VIP Lounge, generously underwritten by Obermeyer Wealth Partners, filled up, and light up cowboy hats began circulating throughout the crowd, courtesy of Cochair Elizabeth Slossberg’s EKS Events team. EKS Events organized both the race-day base and VIP experience as well as the St. Regis party, which included cozy yurts and sitting areas with ski run signs named after each of the 16 teams. 

The highlight of the evening was the presentation of the Gorsuch Cup by Jeff Gorsuch to Team Snowrider, followed by a paddle draw featuring three $100,000 gifts and generous crowd donations starting at $100. 

Altogether, these funds will allow AVSC to continue to subsidize nearly 50% of every program and offer over $800,000 in direct financial aid to local athletes participating in over 40 recreational and competitive winter sports programs. AVSC annually serves 3,000 youth from Silt to Aspen, in five disciplines, and from first-time athletes to Olympic hopefuls. This year, over a dozen AVSC athletes are striving to make the 2026 Olympic Games.  

AVSC owes tremendous thanks to a profound number of individuals and organizations, including our teams and pro racers and our sponsors: Aspen Snowmass, Audi, Hublot, Gorsuch, KJUS, Chalet Alpina, Aspen Power, Obermeyer Wealth Partners, Rowland+Broughton, and Coldwell Banker Mason Morse. Co-chairs for the event were Courtney Brown, Jennifer Styslinger, and Elizabeth Slossberg, owner of EKS Events. 

“Seeing that level of love and generosity was truly overwhelming,” said Ash Farrington, AVSC’s Stewardship Director. “I’m so deeply grateful to every person who showed up, gave generously, and believed so strongly in our mission.”

View initial photos of the event from photographers Matt Power and Sam Ferguson here.