“Gnarliest Episode Ever”? Skiers Throw Down at Aspen in Game of SLVSH

SLVSH is back, and instead of operating in its usual stomping grounds—the terrain park—it headed to the open slopes of Aspen Mountain, Colorado, on a spring day.

Two contenders stepped up: Townsend Reed and Kelly Hilleke. Both are freeride competitors, so their all-mountain chops are undeniable. In the episode, they made use of Aspen Mountain’s steep terrain, tricking over grass and flipping off cat tracks. 

Unsurprisingly, more than a few eyebrow raisers ensued. One YouTube commenter wondered if it was the “gnarliest episode ever.”

We’ll let you decide. Check it out below. 

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In any SLVSH game, a lack of perfectly manicured jumps can be a limiting factor. Without smooth take-offs and landings, hucking a complex trick—think double cork 1080s—is usually off the table. 

But Reed and Hilleke found more than one way to take advantage of Aspen Mountain’s contours, including an unforgettable, terrifying launch from Reed. I won’t say more than that—the magic of SLVSH often lies in surprise.

To those unfamiliar, the game is a long-running, usually casual trick-for-trick competition. It takes the basics of HORSE or SKATE and applies them to the mountains. Do a trick. If your opponent doesn’t land it, they get a letter. Whoever arrives at five letters first loses. 

The format has produced some of skiing’s most memorable videos over the years, including a 20-minute-long face-off between Henrik Harlaut and Quinn Wolferman during Grandvalira’s SLVSH Cup. With $10,000 on the line, that one was intense.

The throwdown at Aspen won’t be the last we’ll hear from Reed and Hilleke. Reed was dropping clips all winter. Hilleke’s heading to the big leagues this coming season: the Freeride World Tour. 

On Instagram, skiers were stoked to see a new all-mountain game from SLVSH. One wondered if more were on the way. To that, the team at SLVSH replied, “One more coming this Fall.” 

Any bets on who they filmed? I, for one, would love to see Ross Tester and Marcus Goguen go head-to-head, but maybe I’m dreaming.

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