FanHouse Gretchen Bleiler

Note to self: Never, ever try to attempt a 900.

The X Games crowd is likely still buzzing about the ridiculous spill that favorite Gretchen Bleiler took at Aspen. The defending event champ somersaulted backward down the wall during her second run in the superpipe finals and slammed her head at the bottom of the pipe.

With the long, extensive, and hectic Summer Dew Tour just behind us, the athletes in winter clothing are gearing up for the 2008 AST Winter Dew Tour set to kick off on December 18th in Breckenridge, Colorado. Announced yesterday were some of the world's best snowboarders and freestyle skiers who will be competing for the Dew Cup and a piece of that $1.5 million prize purse waiting for them at the end of the three-stop series.

The all star roster reads like the who's who of the modern freeski and snowboard movement, highlighted by multiple X Games and Olympic medalists including snowboard athletes Shaun White, Hannah Teter, Andreas Wiig, Travis Rice and Gretchen Bleiler. Freeskiing superstars Tanner Hall, Sarah Burke and Simon Dumont will join the snowboarders on the impressive roster of athletes.

"I'm thrilled for the start of the Winter Dew Tour this December," said Dumont. "This is just what we need to give skiing the exposure it deserves. We'll have live TV coverage and the resorts chosen are some of the best in the world."

PostmanE already told you that funny car drag racer Ashley Force massacred softball hottie Jennie Finch to win the crown as AOL Sports' hottest athlete. So what is it that makes Ashley so hot? Is it her looks? Her fame? Her driving prowess? Is it her accessibility to her fans? The fact that she races for a family mom-and-pop style operation? I think her dominance throughout the tournament, including mop-up jobs of Danica Patrick, Anna Rawson, Gretchen Bleiler, Paula Creamer, and Jennie Finch, indicates it was probably a combination of all the aforementioned factors.

Let me make a suggestion for you: take a look at some of the comments from previous rounds of the tournament and you'll get a sense of Force's fervent fan base. Most voters seemed to be taken by Force's natural beauty. Additionally, many of the voters seemed to be particularly intrigued and awe-stricken by Ashley's athletic ability. There aren't many people in the world, much less beautiful women, who can handle an automobile at speeds upwards of 300mph.

Also do yourself a favor and check out the interview Ashley gave to Dave Hollander in response to being crowned the hottest female athlete. You truly get the sense that Ashley knows her fans have recognized her success and have helped her gain popularity: