Al Johnson Memorial Race March 16

Here we go again!

By Than Acuff

And here we thought the 50^th Annual Al Johnson Memorial Uphill/Downhill Telemark Race (the AJ) last year would be the last one.

That’s crazy talk and thanks to the CBMST Boosters and Crested Butte Mountain Resort (CBMR), the 51^st Al Johnson Memorial Race continues and is slated for 1 p.m. on Sunday, March 16 so it’s time to start brainstorming costumes, tracking down telemark gear and preparing for the greatest show on snow.

The AJ, as it’s commonly known, celebrates the legacy of famed local 19^th century postman Al Johnson and is one of the last great local traditions. It all started back in 1974 on Axtell Mountain and over the years has morphed into what it is now, an uphill/downhill race that climbs 600 feet from the bottom of the North Face Lift to the top of the North Face Lift, before tearing the skins and tipping into the North Face for a 1,200-foot descent with the finish line a short climb up from the bottom of the Last Steep.

For the past several years the event also served as a fundraiser for the Crested Butte Avalanche Center. This year proceeds from the race will go to the CBMST Boosters. The CBMST Boosters are dedicated to providing education, safety skills and inclusion to the athletes and coaches of the Crested Butte Mountain Sports Team.

“The AJ has a long history of highlighting not only physical skill and ability but reminding us that the snowsports community is one of inclusion and enjoyment, no matter the discipline,” says Rachael Gardner, who co-founded the CBMST Boosters along with Rachel Miller and Lachie Stevens. “We were honored CBAC thought of us to carry on the long-standing tradition.”

The CBMST Boosters and CBMR bring a new element to the AJ this year. With costumes exploding over the past 20 years, they will provide an opportunity for folks to strut their stuff prior to the 1 p.m. race start.

“White Carpet!” says Gardner. “Costumes are integral to the AJ experience and we are featuring this with a new ‘White Carpet’ runway event at the bottom of the NFL right before lift load.”

The cost to play is $69, $60 if you don’t want a commemorative AJ hat, and pre-registration is heavily encouraged and can be found at cbmstboosters.org. There will be “day of race” registration available as well at the Treasury Center Sunday morning.

Side note, if you happen to be reading this from the Bend, Oregon area, there is a concurrent Bend Johnson Uphill Downhill Ski “Race” at Mt. Bachelor on Sunday, March 16 thanks to former Crested Butte residents Grant McFarren and Damien Teitelbaum. Email [email protected] for more information.

Let the search for cardboard, wood scraps, duct tape and Telemark gear begin.