Wintersköl™ Royalty

In 1951, all of the girls in town (about 26 of them at the time) were entered into the first Wintersköl Queen contest.

Selection was based on personality, looks, and of course, skiing ability! For the entire week of Wintersköl, all of the girls were required to attend various parties and cocktail receptions.

Today, the Wintersköl Royalty are nominated by the community and selected based on the local residents who exemplify the Wintersköl spirit through their dedication to and involvement with the community.

Charla Belinski

For more than three decades, Charla Belinski has been a respected leader and active contributor to the Aspen community. Following a career in broadcast media and public relations, she raised her three children in Aspen while serving on multiple nonprofit boards supporting youth and families. During that time, she also taught parenting courses throughout the Roaring Fork Valley and was elected to the Aspen School Board for two terms.

At age 46, Charla was called to ministry..., earning a Master of Divinity from the Iliff School of Theology and later a Doctorate in Ministry from Duke University. She currently serves as Senior Pastor at Snowmass Chapel, where she has provided guidance and leadership for the past 15 years.

Charla is currently managing stage 4 ovarian cancer with strength and resolve. Supported by her husband, Tim, their three children and grandson, she continues to exemplify the values that define Aspen and Wintersköl: community, perseverance, and optimism.

Bruce Etkin

A resident of Aspen since 1980, Bruce Etkin is a retired real estate developer and long-standing community leader. He founded Etkin Construction, which grew into one of Colorado’s largest commercial contracting firms, and later co-founded Etkin Johnson Real Estate Partners.

Beyond his professional achievements, Bruce has been an active supporter of numerous local initiatives, including the Aspen Armory Preservation project, Pandora’s Aspen Mountain expansion, the Aspen School Team Bus, the Farm Collective at Cozy Point, and Aspenites4Action. He views community investment not simply as philanthropy, but as a means to strengthen connection and resilience.

Bruce currently serves on the boards of the Aspen Community Foundation and the Aspen Art Museum. His previous board service includes Aspen Country Day School, the Aspen Valley Ski and Snowboard Club, the Urban Land Institute, the Food Bank of the Rockies, and the City of Aspen Licensing Authority. His philanthropic reach extends beyond the valley, supporting organizations such as Children’s Hospital Colorado, Planned Parenthood, the Anschutz Medical Center, and The Nature Conservancy.

Past Wintersköl Royalty Honorees:

2024 DEC - Erlinda Morehead & Terry Trish

2024 JAN - Wendy Mitchell & Kaleb Cook

2023 - Nancy Mayer & John Rigney

2022 - Beth Wille & Seth Sachson

2021 - Dr. Kimberly Levin & Jimmy Yeager

2020 - Nina Gabianelli & Mark Patterson

2019 - Lissa Ballinger & Mike Monroney

2018 - Kathy & Warren Klug

2017 - Pat Callahan & Julie Lampton

2016 - Tom & Jody Cardamone

2015 - Duncan Clauss & Darcy Conover

2014 - Tom Anderson & Georgia Herrick Hanson

2013 - Travis McLain & Susan Cross

2012 - Ted & Christy Mahon

2011 - Sam Ferguson & Marie Munday

2010 - Kurt Bresnitz & Jackie Kasabach

2009 - Marian & Ralph Melville

2008 - Eve Homeyer & Mead Metcalf

2007 - Helen Klanderud & David Walbert

2006 - Tom & Carolyn Moore

2005 - Leonard & Bamby Patterson

2004 - Gretchen Bleiler & Steele Spence

2003 - Casey Puckett & Alberta Moore

2002 - Lenny Weinglass & Jayne Poss

2001 (50th Anniversary) - Jack Depagter (Founder of Wintersköl) & Ellie Spence (1st Wintersköl Queen)

2000 - Neil Bidelman & Gretl Uhl

1999 - Amanda Boxtell & Chris Klug

1998 - Klaus Obermeyer & Allison Scott

1997 - Miggs & Dick Durrance

1990 - George & Mary Gleason

1987 - Monica Lange

1986 - Susan Frailey

1985 - Carla Ramsing

1984 - Linda Zarek

1982 - Valerie Stevens

1981 - Annie Olson

1971 - Gail Ramsey

1970 - Sue Smedstad crowned by King James MacArthur star of Hawaii 5-O

1968 - Erika Brunar

1966 - Skeeter Werner of Steamboat Springs

1964 - Bridget Bagley now Mrs. Robert Kerr

1963 - Marge Holohan

1961 - Merle Garner

1959 - Bente Larssen now Mrs. Eric Lawrence

1958 - Nancy Jankovsky of Denver’s Schussbaumer Ski Club

1957 - Nancy Armory of New York nominated by the Aspen Ski Club

1956 - Caroline Peet​

1955 - Mary Hansen from University of Wyoming

1954 - Kristin Vogt of Oslo Norway

1953 - Claire Hennig of Wasau Wisconsin Sponsored by Wasau Ski Club

1952 - Gwen Van Derbur

1951 - Ellie Whitten (Spence)

Gallery
Wintersköl Royalty