Of course, Aspen regulars like Elle Macpherson and Goldie Hawn are experts when it comes to the best places to shop and looking piste-perfect on skis. For newcomer Zoe Saldana, a New York girl through and through, the going at the chic Colorado resort was rather trickier. Luckily, the 32-year-old Avatar star had her fiancée businessman Keith Britton to give her hand when she came a cropper on the nursery slopes. The couple, who announced their engagement in June after ten years together, had started their day full of smiles and ready for action.
And elegant Zoe, a former ballerina, very much looked the part in black salopettes, a black bomber jacket, monochrome striped jumper and a pair of huge sunglasses After a few minutes, though, the actress was flat on her back but smiling gamely as Keith helped her to get to her feet. Aspen comes alive at this time of year, with an influx of stars enjoying some downtime. The spectacular mountain retreat has long been a favourite for 25 years with Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell, who have a ranch just outside town. Goldie's daughter Kate Hudson has fond memories of growing up there away from the limelight for some of her childhood. She even chose the town as the venue for her winter wedding to former husband Chris Robinson.
Jack Nicholson, also an Aspen favourite, owns a five-bedroom, 5200 sq m Victorian-style house on Lake Avenue. Also likely to make an appearance is Mariah Carey, who spends Christmas there every year, and husband Nick Cannon. Her pregnancy with twins will make it difficult to get around too much. But there's still no place she'd rather be. "Aspen is all about the snow and the environment, so it automatically puts you in that celebratory mood," she has said. "I don't really do do up my New York apartment for Christmas; I save everything for Aspen".
