Photo by Kelsey Brunner / The Aspen Times Beyond the fact that next month’s X Games Aspen at Buttermilk Mountain Ski Area will be held without fans due to Pitkin County novel coronavirus regulations , the capacity limitations also trickle down to affect the competitions and athletes themselves. More specifically, the capacity limits mean fewer of the world’s top winter sports athletes got the invite to compete. The 2021 invite list includes 89 athletes compared with the 180-athlete invite list for the 2020 event. Fewer disciplines this winter, 14 compared to last season’s 21, contribute to the decrease in athletes, but the capacity restrictions also are seen year-over-year in individual competitions. Eight athletes are on the men’s snowboard superpipe invite list compared with 15 in 2020. It’s that men’s snowboard superpipe list — what many regard as X Games’ crown jewel event — that garnered the most debate this week.