The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
Two hundred junior alpine ski racers are expected to compete in the 32nd annual Dan Prater Memorial Cup, set to run February 23-26. The Prater Cup is a U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association (USSA) J4 Championship event for athletes age 11 to 12. The event originated in 1980 in memory of local ski club promoter Dan Prater, a Wichita, Kansas man who fell in love with Crested Butte in the early 1970s, moved here and devoted much of his free time and financial support to helping the junior ski racers compete on the regional racing circuit.
For the last 32 years, first as a J4 Championships and then as a Junior Olympic event, the Prater Cup has been the most celebrated race in the Rocky Mountain region for J4 racers. The kids take this race very seriously, because if they don’t do well here, their season could be almost over. The event is also a great opportunity for socializing and sportsmanship with the country team awards (a Prater tradition) created by the late Bill Sweitzer. The kids are divided into teams upon arrival and compete not only with race results but must also show good sportsmanship, do good deeds and help others while they are here to be rewarded with great prizes that Dan’s daughter, local Stephanie Prater, receives from the ski industry.
Prizes include, Target gift cards, goggles from Oakley, Smith and Bolle, Scott poles, skullcandy headphones, Hestra, Obermeyer, Poc, Bula, Smartwool, Spyder, K2 skis and MSP gear. This approach helps build long-lasting relationships and supports the whole “Team Spirit” aspect of things. The community helps make this event extra special by donating money for the event t-shirt and Red Lady Realty, Artesans, Maxwells, Lobar, Secret stash, Mcgills provide a wonderful barbecue on Saturday prepared by the Garcia family, Bryson family and the Prater family for the racers, parents and coaches.
Thanks to all of the following businesses and family for supporting the event t-shirt—Acme Liquor, Treasury Liquors, Rocky Mountain Chocolate factory, Diamond Blue Pool & Spa, Alpine Construction, the Garcia family, Menu Magazine, Pedal to the Metal, Princess Productions, West Wall Lodge, the Bryson family, Gunnison Bank, Crested Butte Bank, Gas Café, Bliss Chiropractic, Coldwell Banker Bighorn Realty, Ron Prater, Prater Pumping Services, Economy Storage, Prater Oil and Gas Operations, Flatiron Sports, Wooden Nickel, Zachariah Zypp, Holbrook & Smith, George Reinhardt & Associates, Ananda Massage, Staley Photography, Allie Prater, Bacchanale, Ron Owston, Donita’s, Rubens, Slogar, B & B Printers, Lil’s, John Carnahan, Chris Morrison and Benson Sotheby’s International Realty. Thanks to Crested Butte Ski Club and CBMR for all the support. Come out and watch the Crested Butte kids rip it up at the base of the West Wall Lift.
