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X-Games Interviews with Jon Olson & Tanner Hall | Aspen Buttermilk, CO United States | 02/10/10, by TBG

Winding down the westward slope of I-70, mimicking the curvature of the frozen Colorado River, our destination was approaching after a swift drive from Boulder.  Road signs rushed passed as we neared the three and a half hour mark, and suddenly as if the blur slowed to a steady smear, the next sign read, "Glenwood Springs/Aspen." You could feel the excitement in the air followed by the muffled private jets soaring in low at the base of Buttermilk Mountain. In better terms, welcome to X-Games weekend in Aspen!

Everything was looking fresh under a typical blue bird day, so we dropped into the condo and set up for the weekend. Now, this wasn't a condo you get when you go with your family to Aspen, but it was luxury for six grungy steezers to reside in for the long weekend.  Staying with a close group of weekend warriors pays off by making sleeping arrangements a breeze, and there's always a majority vote to rage. 

One of my buddies, Andrew Hill, just got his feet wet with a grassroots company he started a year ago called Hiatus, specializing in mountain apparel catering to the park-rat wardrobe. (Check him out at www.RideHiatus.com) Again, pays off knowing some people when you're in Aspen! Tanner Hall, Matt Walker and Nick Martini all blessed us with their presence at the 5th Ave complex after the Big Air event on Friday night.

I was fortunate enough to catch Jon Olson after witnessing young gun Bobby Brown going massive with a switch double misty 1260 followed by a never before switch double misty 1440 in the jam session format.  Podium standings were as follows: Bobby Brown, TJ Shiller and Elias Ambuhl, and Jon had to say this about what he experienced.

Me: "Jon, how was it not being part of the huck session, and just having to watch?"

Jon: "Wow, right? The crowd went wild for the Big Air this year, the young guys like Bobby and Elias have re-designed the sport."

Me: "Would you say progression advanced the sport this year more than in previous years?"

Jon: "I would say so, I mean I was thinking to myself during Big Air, "'I'm glad I don't have to throw down a run against these guys!"'



In the fury of events changing with athletes combing the crowd, I managed to snag Tanner Hall for a quick minute on backcountry skiing. After playing an active role as a coach and friend to those competing in Big Air, (since he's still recovering from injuries induced at Stevens Pass last spring) he was more than happy to answer some questions.

Me: "Tanner, quick and simple, where's your favorite place to catch the deepest pow?"

Tanner: "Easy...Retallack, B.C." (with a big ass grin stretching across his face)

Me: "You are one of the figures who is considered to have revolutionized the sport of park-skiing, and now you are focusing on taking it back to the big mountains where the sport originated, explain?"

Tanner: "You know that's a great question. The park is fun and sick if you solely want to ride park, but if you can take your skills back to the big mountain, there is no line you can't hit. I have to give credit to my buddies Sage Cattabriga-Alosa and JP Auclair, who have excelled the sport of backcountry skiing in recent years. Also, I can't forget my good friend Travis Rice, who kills it on big mountain features!"

Following the competitions on Saturday, the base of Aspen Mountain was lit up with a battle of lasers under the stars as Ghostland Observatory put on a free show.  Hosted by Bud Light Hi-Fi Concert Series, the show was a big hit that stormed Aspen by surprise. All in all, the 2010 X-Games were again another great showcase of the best winter sports athletes in the world, allowing for a diverse athlete line-up with multiple riders headed to the Olympics.

And if you weren't in Aspen raging, then I suspect you caught the games on ESPN this year...and I'm sure you received your full dosage of "MEGA MO" with Sal Masekela.