The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
“This is going to be a good show”
Saturday, March 13 marks the triumphant return of the Big Air on Elk. The event was the brainchild of Alan Bernholtz and Jayson Simons-Jones as a fundraiser for the Crested Butte Avalanche Center back in 2004.
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It ran through three successful years and now, after a four-year hiatus, it’s back, thanks in large part to the effort of Gabe Martin, owner of the Colorado FreeSkier.
This year will be a showcase of the top skiers and snowboarders from the area who have honed their skills in the terrain park on Crested Butte Mountain, as well as winners from past Big Air on Elk competitions.
As word of the event’s return spread, Martin did some research of his own to find out who should represent on Elk Avenue.
“I talked to the [Crested Butte Mountain Resort] park crew to get some names of Crested Butte’s top park riders,” says Martin. “This is going to be a good show with top-notch local athletes.”
Martin adds that spectators can expect to see 720 spins, 900 spins and more.
“We might even see a 10 [1080], and maybe some a little inverted,” says Martin.
The number of competitors will be capped at 30, offering participants more attempts at the jump.
Lacy Construction will be trucking in the snow for the in-run, jump and landing. CS Irwin is providing the snowcat to build the jump and the snowmobiles for the tow-in, and Colorado FreeSkier team rider John Scott will be spearheading the design of the jump, which is slated to be a step up with a gap.
According to Martin, there will be plenty of time for athletes to practice.
“Their timing is going to have to be dialed,” says Martin. “When they show up for the competition, they’ll be comfortable with it.”
Jump building and final touches will be on Saturday from noon until 3 p.m. Athletes will get practice runs from 4 to 6 p.m. and the competition will run from 6 to 10 p.m.
The tow-in by snowmobile starts on Elk Avenue between the Slope and Timberline Restaurant, with riders hitting the jump in front of the Talk of the Town and landing at the intersection of Elk Avenue and Third Street.
Spectators can watch from anywhere along the tow-in, to the jump, to the landing.
“There won’t be a bad seat in the house,” says Martin.
Volunteers will circulate through the crowd selling raffle tickets for a chance to win a new ski jacket and skis from Armada, goggles from Smith Optics, a grip load of swag from Line/Orage/Fulltilt, and the grand prize, a CBMR 2010-2011 Gold Pass.
Raffle drawings start during the competition and will continue until the grand prize giveaway at the awards ceremony at Third and Elk immediately following the event.
All proceeds from this year’s Big Air on Elk goes to the Crested Butte Ski Club helping raise money for kids to join the Crested Butte Mountain Sports team as well as the Crested Butte Avalanche Center (CBAC).
The Crested Butte Ski Club and the CBAC will host parties as well during the event. The CBAC Big Hair on Elk will be on the Brick Oven deck with beer specials and a “big hair” competition.
The Crested Butte Ski Club will offer all-you-can-eat chili and gumbo and a cash bar at the Paradise Café overlooking the take-off and landing of the jump.
Martin hopes to see everyone out there from locals to the throngs of tourists and looks to see the event continue as an annual event.
“We see this event growing to be the ‘Fourth of July’ of the winter,” says Martin.
