I got a last-minute gig to cover X Games Aspen for Monster Energy. They needed someone to shoot new product photos and some of the Monster Energy athletes competing in the events. For those that don’t know me, Aspen is one of my favorite places on earth, so it’s an offer I couldn’t pass up. 7 days later I was standing at the base of Buttermilk Mountain ready to cover my third X Games.

My Airbnb was in a prime location, right beside the main bus station, Belly Up Aspen (one of my favorite concert venues), and plenty of unique photo spots for product photography. Over 5 days I shot Snowmobile Freestyle, Women’s Ski Big Air, Men’s Snowboard Knuckle Huck, Men’s and Women’s Snowboard Superpipe practice, Lil Wayne, multiple gold medal ceremonies, plus released and unreleased products for Monster Energy. These photos are just a small portion of my time there.

My original plan after X Games was to come home for a few days to switch out some gear and clothes, and then fly to Atlanta for the Super Bowl. I was supposed to fly from Aspen to Chicago, Chicago to Akron/Canton and then 3 days later be in Atlanta. During this time, however, the Midwest was experiencing a polar vortex. Wind chills in Chicago were -50 degrees, so all flights there were canceled. Even Ohio was having some brutal weather. After a few hours in Aspen’s airport coordinating between United, Delta, Monster Energy, and the Pro Football Hall of Fame I ended up spending an extra night in Aspen, skipping my trip home, and flying directly to Atlanta the next day. Shoutout to Delta.