SAM Magazine-Aspen, Colo., Jan. 22, 2009-As this year's ESPN Winter X Games ramp up in Aspen, the Aspen Skiing Company has reached an agreement that will keep the Winter X Games in Aspen/Snowmass through 2012. Winter X has been in Aspen since 2002.

Winter X began at Snow Summit Mountain Resort, Calif., in 1997 then moved to Crested Butte, Colo., for 1998-99 and to Mount Snow, Vt., for 2000-01.

"This new agreement demonstrates our commitment to a good relationship, and we have that with Aspen Skiing Company, Pitkin County and the city of Aspen," said Winter X executive director Jack Wienert. "Our athletes, ESPN staff and sponsors love being in Aspen, and we are thrilled to continue our success with Aspen/Snowmass and in this wonderful region of Colorado."

Aspen CEO Mike Kaplan said, "We are thrilled to keep the X Games where they belong, right here in Aspen/Snowmass, through 2012. This has become a signature event for our community and our brand."

Aspen has heavily benefitted from hosting Winter X. Since 2002, tattendance has nearly doubled; the event is now live on ESPN and ABC; SportsCenter airs live on site; and a multitude of ESPN media platforms regularly cover the event. Last year's telecasts garnered record viewership, averaging 863,000 homes, up 17 percent from 2007.

This year's event features athletes from across the globe competing for medals and prize money in skiing, snowboard and snowmobile. ESPN and ABC will feature 15 hours of live high-definition programming Jan. 22 - Jan. 25, and ESPN2 will present eight hours of daily late-night highlight programs in HD. In addition, Winter X will also be televised on ESPN's International networks in 122 countries and territories in Latin America, the Pacific Rim, Middle East, Asia, Africa, Israel and Canada. \