Chris Klug

Happy New Year! I hope you have enjoyed a fun and relaxing holiday. Thank you to all of my friends and family that helped make 2011 so special. After receiving a second chance at life over ten years ago every year is a blessing. 2011 was extra special. Undoubtedly the highlight of 2011 was the birth of our daughter Bali last spring. She’s the best; we’re loving her. It’s so fun to include her in all of our adventures. Another highlight was being inducted into the Colorado Ski & Snowboard Hall of Fame. That was an awesome experience. I was really proud to join an amazing group of people that have contributed so much to winter sports. Also making the 2011 highlight podium was the 6th Annual Aspen Summit for Life. It was a sell-out success with five hundred participants raising $130,000 to support CKF’s mission of eliminating the wait for the over 112,000 currently waiting today for a life-saving transplant. I’m proud to volunteer with CKF and help others get a second chance at life just like I did over a decade ago. We’ve got an exciting line-up of events in 2012 including Winter X, Warped Tour, American Transplant Games, Fitness Festival, and Donor Dudes Campus events nationwide. Hope you’ll join us!

I’m excited about 2012. I’m hoping 2012 will bring some big snow storms soon. I thought I’d have a harder time adjusting after traveling the world on my snowboard the past twenty-five years, living out of a suitcase. It was an awesome ride, but I’m loving being home in Aspen full-time balancing work and play. I enjoy the challenge of my Aspen real estate business. I’m grateful for the opportunity. It’s just like snowboarding, competitive and I want to be the best. I’m looking forward to challenging myself athletically in 2012 with events like the Grand Traverse, Power of Four and the Leadville Trail 100 again. I want to break eight hours at Leadville. We’re planning to have a CKF Team this year, so stay tuned. My personal goals are to be the best dad, friend and husband I can, climb some new peaks, continue to expand my real estate business in Aspen, demonstrate to the transplant community and the world what’s possible after a transplant and do everything in my power to help the over 112,000 currently waiting today for a transplant.

Baby Bali shared her 2012 goals with me yesterday. She wants to learn how to walk, talk and stop breast feeding. Actually the last one is Missy’s goal. If I could accomplish half of what my daughter will in 2012 it would be an incredible year. I’ll do my best to keep up with her.

I wish you all happiness and prosperity in 2012. Make the most of every day. My mantra is don’t take a single turn for granted. Hope to see you back in Aspen again soon, on the mountain or on the trail. Have a great 2012!? CK

Christmas in Oregon

Last Friday night November 4 I was inducted into the Colorado Ski & Snowboard Hall of fame along with four others, Charles Elliott, Ron Allred, Jack Benedick, and John Garnsey. My favorite Ski and Snowboard Club was also recognized, Aspen Valley Ski & Snowboard Club. I was honored when I was informed earlier in the summer about my selection, but I didn’t realize what an awesome event it was going to be. I really enjoyed preparing for my five minute speech the past weeks, reflecting on the highlights of my career. It sure has been a fun ride! Charlie Elliott spoke before me, who is 98 years old and still skis at Wolf Creek Mtn. He spoke about learning to ski 77 years ago. After the five inductees spoke all of the Hall of Famers were invited to the stage for a group photo. The history on that stage was incredible; it was a veritable who’s who of the history of skiing and snowboarding. I was proud just to be a part of it. My longtime coach Rob Roy and teammate and coach Ian Price both joined me for the ceremony at the Omni Interlocken in Broomfield, Colorado. Also in attendance were my family and my donor family. I have had the opportunity to thank my donor family in person a couple of times in my life and one of them was last Friday. I’m here today because of their heroic decision. I was happy to celebrate together! Thanks to all that helped make it possible. It has been an amazing ride. I’m not done yet, just shifting my focus to new adventures. Thank you!

I enjoyed a nice hike last Sunday with family and friends. There’s a lot of snow atop our local mountains. I’m excited to start shredding again. Snowmass Mtn. announced that they will open next weekend Nov. 19th.? More snow on the way tonight and tomorrow. I was hoping to get one more weekend of riding my mountain bike in the desert in before winter arrives, but climbing and riding pow on my split-board also sounds fun! Enjoy your weekend and a great winter ahead! Summit for Life 2011 just four weeks away. Hope you’ll hike Aspen Mtn. with me at night to support organ and tissue donation awareness. See you on the mountain. Thanks for stopping by! CK

Baby Bali Hiking Buttermilk Mountain

Baby Bali and Dad Enjoying the View from West Buttermilk Ridge

Klug Family Buttermilk Mountain Hike

Missy and Bali Taking a Break

Hall of Fame Induction Speech 2011

My Family and Donor Family

2011 Colorado Hall of Fame Inductees

Pep, CK & Bali, Billy Kidd and Tryg Myhren

Coach Rob, CK, Bali and Missy

I climbed Capital Peak yesterday morning with my friend Jon. We camped along Capital Creek Thursday night on the approach to Capital Lake. It’s such an awesome valley. After enjoying a beautiful starry night, we awoke yesterday morning to clouds and rain. I thought we were going to get skunked, but the weather continued to improve as we approached Capital Lake and the climb up the saddle. It took us about three hours to the summit from the lake. When we arrived on top it was sunny and beautiful. The view is spectacular! The Knife Edge section is so cool. It was a long hike back to the car yesterday, but well worth it. Below are a few photos from our adventure. Thanks for stopping by. Enjoy your Labor Day Holiday Weekend! CK

Jon at Capital Creek Camp

Jon & I on Capital Peak Summit

Knife Edge Success

Hiking Capital Peak

Capital Creek Valley

Knife Edge Wedge

Negotiating the Knife Edge

Capital Peak

CK with Pierre Lakes in Background

View from Top of Capital

Mt. Daly

Last Sunday I participated in the Inaugural Power of Four Mountain Bike Race from Snowmass Base Village to the top of Aspen Mountain via Elk Camp, Gov’t Trail, Highlands, Congo, and Midnight Mine, about 11,000 feet of climbing. It was awesome. It was a real mountain bike race with epic single track, challenging climbs and some fun technical sections. I loved it. The last loop around Aspen Mtn. on my mountain bike just about killed me. I cramped so badly at the hike a bike section I timbered into the bushes. I had a nice wipeout on Gov’t; it was hard to see with the early morning shadows. I filmed most of the ride with my GoPro. My buddy Joel also helped me capture some race footage. Stay tuned for a Power of 4 Video at www.youtube.com/chrisklugaspen. I finished in fifth place in four hours forty-three minutes, about half the time it took me to complete the Power of Four SkiMo Race last March. I think the winter version was the hardest race I’ve done, for me harder than Leadville 100 or the Elk Mtn. Grand Traverse.

It has been a fun summer of training and racing on my bikes. I learned a lot and really enjoyed it. I love the local Aspen Cycling Club weekly races. Hopefully I can do a few more before the end of the season. Leadville was awesome. I really wanted to break eight hours this year, but cramped badly the last hour and struggled to the finish in 8:13. I’ll be back next year to get the job done! I’m excited to break out my hiking shoes and climb some 14′ers in September. Jazz Aspen/Snowmass Festival this weekend. Hope to see ya there. Thanks for checking in! ? Have a fun holiday weekend! CK

Yesterday I competed in the Power of Four Aspen/Snomwass COSMIC SkiMo Race with my buddy Jon Gibans. It was hardcore. We started yesterday morning at Snowmass Base Village at 7:15 am and finished nine hours and forty-nine minutes later coming down a mogul field on Slalom Hill. We climbed all four resort mountains, over eleven thousand vertical feet and twenty-two miles, finishing back in Aspen at the bottom of 1A just before dark. My goal was to make the cut-off at Highlands at the entrance to the Congo Trail before 2:00 pm and arrive at the finish line. We did it! My race partner Jon Gibans and I got to the top of the Grand Reverse at Highlands where the Congo Trail begins at 1:50 pm, ten minutes before it closed. It was a long day; I was spent at the finish. It was such a cool race though. I loved it. I did it on my split-board and was the only split-boarder to complete the race. My transitions were slower, but I definitely didn’t lose any time on the downhill and the Congo was awesome on a board. I used the new Burton Freebird split-board with Voile slider plates and Scarpa F1′s. My new Scarpa F1′s ruled. They’re the best climbing and split-board boots. Missy joked when she dropped us off at start yesterday morning that the sport didn’t quite have the outfits down yet. We were a funny looking bunch with bicycle and climbing helmets and tights.

I was suffering going up Highlands; that was undoubtedly the worst part for me. The wind was howling on the bowl. I was wearing only thin liner gloves and had to put my hands in my pockets and drag my poles to stay warm. Both quads were cramping as I hiked to the top of ? Highlands Bowl. I quickly jumped on my board at the top to descend Ozone and get out of the wind. Every heel turn I made my legs would seize up, thought I was going to go over the handlebars and tomahawk to the bottom. Fortunately I made it without exploding. Every step from the bottom of Deep Temerity Lift to the Congo was painful. Congo was a fun descent. It was like a terrain park. Felt like I was in a SBX course in a few banked turns. Once I arrived at Castle Creek Road, after a wrong turn onto North Hayden road and a walk up Castle Creek Road, I somehow recovered and got my second, or twentieth wind at that point, and felt much better going up Midnight Mine Road. I was wondering how I was going to make it up that last climb, but I miraculously recovered and felt much better on the Midnight Mine climb than I did heading up to Loge Peak.

Congrats to everyone that competed and to Aspen Ski Company for a great event. It was one of the hardest athletic events I’ve ever participated in, might be tougher than a liver transplant. Seventy-five teams started out and forty-two made it to the finish. The longest hike I did leading up to the race was a four hour adventure up Express Creek to Barnard Hut. The lack of long training hikes might have lead to my suffering. For me it was harder than the Leadville Trail 100 Mtn. Bike Race and The Elk Mountain Grand Traverse. In any case it’s great training for both and a fun adventure. I learned a lot and can’t wait to do it again next year. I encourage you to check it out next winter. Enjoy the pics. Thanks for stopping by. CK

Power of Four Aspen/Snowmass SkiMo Race 2011

My race Partner Jon and I at start line, Snowmass Base Village

My Race Partner Jon and I heading up Snowmass

Four Mountain Uphill

Celebrating making it to the finish in Aspen

We made it, nine hours forty-nine minutes later

Registration is open for the 11th Annual Aspen Klug Spring Snowboard Camp! Register early and save at www.klugriding.com. My new eCommerce site is live and open for business.? Aspen Klug Spring Snowboard Camp March 18-20, 2011, Buttermilk, Aspen, Colorado

In its eleventh year the Aspen Klug Spring Snowboard Camp keeps getting better. If you want to have fun riding in the spring while improving your skills in all areas of snowboarding this is for you. The camp is designed for all ages (5 and older) and all ability levels. We’ve had ages 5-69 in the past 11 years. The camp will feature daily park and pipe, freeride, SBX, and race training with expert instruction by our team of world-class coaches. Our goal is to make you the best all-around snowboarder! Plus you will have the chance to ride with the pros on the X Games venues!

Register early and SAVE! 3-Day Camp: $550 or $200 per day. After March 15th, 2011, $600 for 3-Day Camp or $225 per day. Less $25 per day for ASC and AVSC Pass Holders.? For complete info or to register for the camp visit? www.chrisklug.com/camp.html.? I hope to see you and ride together March 18 at Buttermilk.

CK

Last Saturday night I skinned up to Barnard Hut above Aspen for the night. I headed up Express Creek from Ashcroft with my friend Jon. We arrived at the top of Express Creek at the base of Taylor Pass just in time to enjoy spectacular sunset colors over the Elk Mountains. The wind picked up and it got cold as we descended to Barnard Hut in the dark. Navigating the powder fields and snowmobile tracks in the dark on cross-country skis was sketchy. I had a few nice “Over-the-bars” wipeouts, with my pack driving my face into the pow. I didn’t think it was that funny, but Jon seemed to love it. We were testing out our new Fisher skis that we just got from the Ute for the Grand Traverse. I’ve gotta do some long ski sessions the next month to get ready. I’m thinking about doing the COSMIC Power of Four race March 5th on my split-board, over 10,000 vertical from Snowmass to Aspen.

Last night Missy and I skied to Pine Creek Cookhouse above Ashcroft for Valentine’s Dinner. It was a beautiful starlit night, no headlamp required. We had an awesome dinner. My friends Chris and Christian took good care of us. I was so full it was hard to ski home. Missy, mom-to-be, did great skiing up and down. Today I filmed a split-boarding feature with my friends Andy, Ryan and Ramona from Plum TV. Stay tuned for our upcoming Mountain Top split-board segment. I’m speaking in Pittsburgh for Deloitte Friday. Enjoy another day of Colorado springtime, winter is returning. Thanks for checking in. Enjoy the images below! ? CK