Bedlam ensues at 41st annual Al Johnson race

Who, when, what place?

Pillow fights, Titanic crashes, Chinese Dragons, Buttians, the Flintstones, Hall & Oates and new men’s and women’s champions were all part of the 41st annual Al Johnson Uphill/Downhill Telemark Ski Race on Sunday, March 22.
It was bedlam to say the least, as it always is, really. Nearly 150 participants in this year’s chaos were met with sunny skies and firm conditions. Due to the low snow year, the Last Steep was removed from the course. Instead, after climbing up Schofield Road and scratching down Rachel’s, Hard Slab and Old Pro, the course took a hard left onto Easy Out and sent everyone through the skiercross for the finish line at Paradise Warming House.
Drew Holbrook won his first Al Johnson race, edging out the win over 28-year competitor and multiple AJ winner Pat O’Neill. Mike Preston was not too far behind in third, with Pete Curvin and Pete Blommer rounding out the AJ podium in fourth and fifth place.
On the women’s side of things Jari Kirkland threw down to take the title, with Bradley Richmond in second, Arianne French in third, Paige Williams in fourth and Janae Pritchett taking fifth place after towing her daughter, Marin, on the uphill and the two skiing down together to the finish line.
A new timing system was in place, and the old system was there as well, but with a new finish line came new challenges to getting everyone’s place and time right. Admittedly, some people were missed, some times incorrect and therefore there may be some holes in the overall results.
Nevertheless, after crunching numbers, interviewing eyewitnesses and cross-checking with the old system, organizers think they have the results as good as they possibly can be. Face it, it’s a challenge to get bib numbers and tear-off tags with so much going on.
All in all, the AJ was as it always is and should be: big fun with a little bit of pain and a fair amount of confusion.