PHOTOGRAPHY BY THE FREESKIER EDITOR

In its 18 th time rolling, the FREESKIER Ski Test returns to Aspen, Colorado, bigger and better than ever. Today, our legion of ski testers and representation from over 30 symbols reached the infamous ski town, accompanying with them more than 300 duets of next year’s skis–freshly waxed to perfection–fashionable hot tub attire, Ziploc pouches full of pocket bacon, and working attitudes that moved to:” Let’s Party .”

It’s a hard job–but someone’s gotta do it. For the next week, we’ll be rippin’ and dippin’ on Aspen’s Ajax Mountain, collecting the profits of the its 675 acres of terrain and 3,267 feet of horizontal, used to identify which skis you need to find an excuse to ride next season. Don’t worry–everyone testing skis grades and evaluates each duo on-the-spot, so we can compile the most accurate information probable. It’s all in preparation of our annual Buyer’s Guide, our biggest, baddest periodical of the year, complete with gear reviews and expert advice on how to find your dream setup.

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Thanks to the brand-spankin’ new W Aspen hotel, we’ll be stationed precisely steps from the gondola, the excellent target to catch First Chair; to Dragon Alliance for equipping goggles and sunglasses to then entire squad; The Ski Monster for applying us a classic ski supermarket event in modern digs, an online and brick-and-mortar marketplace to buy our favorite new fragment of gear; Darn Tough for realise f* ckin’ comfy ski socks with a lifetime guarantee; and, of course, to Aspen Snowmass for hosting the most prominent defendant of the year.

Below, take a peek at our first night in Aspen–the load-in process and the Welcome Party–and stay sung online for terminated coverage all week long. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, check out the hashtag #FREESKIERFEST for more, and is secure to subscribe to the print-version of the magazine to see the terminated was the outcome of the 18 th annual FREESKIER Ski Test land on your doorstep in the fall.

Next Year’s Skis at Aspen Mountain

Welcome Party@ the W Aspen

Aspen Snowmass for the purposes of the lightings. Tomorrow is going to be a good day.

Snow falling outside the W Aspen.

The snow is stacking up outside the W Aspen.

Big thanks to our sponsors The Ski Monster, Dragon Alliance and Darn Tough.

Darn Tough socks from the future.

Every tester in the fleet got a pair of Dragon goggles.

Welcome to the W Aspen.

Level Gloves keepin’ our digits heated.

Tester Jojo Coffey is stoked on the brand-new Dragon goggles.

Picking out Pret Helmets.

The Ski Monster with the cheeky stickers.

The PHOOZY, the perfect endow bag item to keep your phone warm and artillery alive.

FREESKIER and The Ski Monster stickers for the win.

Showin’ off those brand-new Darn Tough socks.

Related:

The 21 best all-mountain skis of 2020

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