On December 30, 2011, Antonio Banderas was spotted hosting the Ajax Cup Après-Ski Event in co-presented by Aspen Peak magazine in Aspen. The proceeds of the event benefited the Aspen Valley Ski & Snowboard Club, which helps generations of local children experience the mountains in winter. Also attending the event was Banderas' beautiful wife, Melanie Griffith.
Antonio Banderas is an Aspen resident and film star known for his movies You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger, Zorro, Spy Kids, Puss in Boots, Shrek and Desperado. Co-chairs Marc Ganzi and Katy Frisch said, “We're excited to have Antonio with us to help make AVSC's biggest fundraiser a great success.”
The Ajax Cup Après-Ski Event was held at the tented Silver Circle Ice Rink. Banderas presented the Gorsuch-designed trophy to the winning team. There was gourmet food, top-shelf liquor and live entertainment at the event from 2:30 pm to 6:30 pm.
According to the Aspen Valley Ski & Snowboard Club website, the organization has been “teaching winter sports ever since the Club was founded in 1937. As the valley's oldest and largest youth non-profit, AVSC has taught generations of local children the very sports that revitalized the Aspen/Snowmass area.”
The site continues, “AVSC reaches almost 2,000 children per season, over 300 of them from Latino households, and we are proud of the diversity of our participants and success they've had in winter sports. Through AVSC, children and teens experience the mountains in winter, build character, challenge themselves and make new friends. Our motto is great athletes, great kids.”
Pro celebrity coaches at the AJAX Cup race included Chris Davenport, Freeskiing World Champion and Race Co-Chair, Casey Puckett, 5-Time Olympic racer and Race Co-Chair, Chris Klug, Olympic snowboarder and Chris Klug Foundation, Jake Zamansky, Olympic ski racer and World Cup racer, Kristina Koznick, Olympic Ski racer and World Cup winner and Kim Reichhelm, World Extreme skiing champ and US Ski Team racer.
The AJAX Cup website describes the event as “the cornerstone event benefiting the Aspen Valley Ski Snowboard Club. The race features 12 teams competing head-to-head down a giant slalom course on Aspen Mountain December 30th, 2011 during the height of Aspen’s Holiday Season for maximum exposure. The Celebration continues with the Ajax Cup Après Ski Party that we predict will sell out for the 2nd year in a row. An event not to be missed.”
Last year the Ajax Cup Après Ski Party was hosted by Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell. AVSC Executive Director Mark Cole had stated, “As the biggest non-profit ski club in the country, what better way to celebrate our efforts than with a marquee ski race and party. Proceeds from this fantastic event will ensure that we can reach every interested local child with winter sports programs that change lives.”
Aspen remains the premiere winter destination for many people attracted to snow, beauty and winter sports. In December, American polo player Nic Roldan hosted the Aspen Peak magazine Snow Polo holiday party presented by Bing in Aspen. Mariah Carey, Nick Cannon and their twins spent the holidays and New Year in Aspen, having a great time until Cannon was just hospitalized in Colorado for mild kidney failure.