It was an exhilarating day of racing at Aspen Mountain! Despite the challenges of 8 inches of fresh snow, a 20-minute delay, and a few spills on the course, everyone remained safe, making for an outstanding day of ski racing. The course held up remarkably well in the cold weather, and spectators were treated to thrilling competition in both the men’s and women’s Colorado Pro Open races, presented by Mazda. We hope you all had a fantastic time cheering on these talented athletes as they raced head-to-head down the mountain!

The Colorado Pro Open, presented by Mazda, brought together a mix of familiar faces and exciting newcomers on the women’s side, representing seven different countries. Reigning 2024 Tour Champion Erin Mielzynski qualified with the fastest time yesterday and faced off against Sara Rask in the finals. In an unexpected twist, Mielzynski made a rare mistake by hooking her arm on the inside gate, causing her to flip off course and paving the way for Rask to seize victory in the Colorado Pro Open.

In the small final, past tour champion Tuva Norbye triumphed over Tintorri, finishing in third and fourth place, respectively, while Sara Rask claimed the coveted winning title. It was an incredible day of racing!

A heartfelt thank you goes out to Aspen Mountain, the athletes, and the Hill Crew for their efforts in clearing the fresh snow off the course this morning.

Similar to the women’s competition, the men’s field featured an exciting blend of Tour veterans and promising newcomers. A surprising moment of the morning came when David Ketterer (GER) collided with Lucas Ellis from the United Kingdom, resulting in a dramatic spill that saw Ellis flip and inadvertently cut Ketterer in the back of the neck. Thankfully, ski patrol quickly arrived on the scene, and Ketterer was able to continue racing in the next round.

Defending 2024 Tour Champion Christian Soevik (NOR) showcased his abilities by qualifying with the fastest time of the day. He advanced through the field to face off against Filip Foretjek, who finished third in the overall standings of the World Pro Ski Tour last year. In a thrilling final, Soevik narrowly won the first run by just 0.196 seconds. However, Foretjek made a costly mistake in the second run, allowing Soevik to secure another impressive victory.

In the consolation round, American Cooper Cornelius (USA) went head-to-head with Filip Wahlqvist for the battle of third and fourth place. Rookie Filip Wahlqvist emerged victorious, taking home third place, while Cornelius finished in fourth.

Racing action continues tomorrow with a second round of Super Slalom for both men and women here at Aspen Mountain.

Be sure to tune in for tomorrow’s Men’s Aspen Pro Open, presented by Celsius, and Women’s Aspen Pro Open, presented by Sports Insurance, starting at 10 AM.

Catch all the live action on our Facebook Live and YouTube channel!