Industry News
In a tribute to one of its most accomplished hometown athletes, Aspen Snowmass, Colorado, has honored Alex Ferreira by naming a ski run after the Olympic gold medalist, celebrating both his historic achievements and deep roots in the community.
The newly named run, now called Alex’s Alley, is located at Buttermilk Ski Area, long regarded as the home of Aspen’s freestyle scene. Formerly known as Jacob’s Ladder, the terrain park line is a medium-to-large (M/L) feature line, designed for advanced progression with a mix of jumps and rails. As a regular training ground for elite freestyle skiers and the annual host venue for the X Games, Buttermilk has played a central role in Alex Ferreira’s development—making the renaming a fitting tribute on the very terrain where he honed his craft.
The recognition comes just weeks after Ferreira captured gold in the men’s halfpipe at the 2026 Winter Olympics, completing a full set of Olympic medals after previously winning silver in 2018 and bronze in 2022.
Few athletes are as closely tied to their home mountain as Ferreira is to Aspen. Born and raised in Aspen, Ferreira grew up skiing locally and developed through the Aspen Valley Ski Club, laying the foundation for a career that would take him to the top of the sport. His success has been closely intertwined with the Aspen skiing community, where he has become a fixture not only on the world stage, but also at home events like the Winter X Games, held annually at Buttermilk.
The run naming follows a broader celebration hosted by Aspen Snowmass, which invited the community to honor Ferreira’s Olympic victory with a mountaintop ceremony and ski-down on Aspen Mountain. The event highlighted not only Ferreira’s gold medal performance, but also the network of coaches, family, and supporters who contributed to his rise.
Ferreira’s résumé places him among the most decorated freestyle skiers of his generation. In addition to his Olympic success, he has won multiple X Games gold medals, World Cup titles and season titles in halfpipe and park & pipe. His 2026 Olympic victory marked the pinnacle of a career built on consistency and innovation in halfpipe skiing.
The decision to name a run after Ferreira reflects Aspen’s long-standing tradition of celebrating local heroes who shaped the resort. There is “Klaus’ Way” in Buttermilk, named after Klaus Obermeyer—founder of the ski wear brand Obermeyr, as well as “Friedl’s,” named after Friedl Pfeiffer—an Austrian downhill racer who emigrated to the United States and co-founded the Aspen Skiing Company alongside Walter Paepcke in the 1940s.
By permanently placing his name on the mountain, Aspen Snowmass has ensured that his legacy will remain part of the landscape where it began.
