Rip CR

The ski industry is weird. Living in a ski town you are living among pro skiers and snowboarders, and skiers that are good enough to be pros. This may be one of the first times I realized I “follow a leader.” The fall in Park City is great, you have to mountain bike in long sleeves, the beer on tap switches to a darker winter brew, and beanies can be worn every day. In the fall is also the debut of the winter film series. Productions agencies such as Teton Gravity Research, Matchstick Productions, Rage Films, and Warren Miller were some of our favorites. They would be shown on a huge screen in local club often with give aways from vendors, and the like. You would see all your favorite skiers skiing bigger and badder lines from the previous year. You would be so excited for ski season. Everyone has their favorite riders, usually you enjoy their skiing style, clothing style, music style, and hey they may even be your neighbor. One of my favorite skiers was CR Johnson. He had good style and was not too cocky. I looked up to him as a skiing “leader.” His style and good word were admired by many. A winner of many competitions, he often donated his prize money to charities. He was only 26 years old. In 2005 CR suffered a traumatic brain injury. He had to re learn how to do everything, how to walk, talk, let alone become a big mountain skier. The next season he was out skiing again. Everyone thought it was remarkable recovery. "After emerging from a coma, Johnson had to relearn everything, from swallowing food to walking. His steadfast determination fueled by an immense love of skiing won him unanimous respect. "There is a scene in one of his movies called Seven Sunny Days by Matchstick productions where you see images of CR in the hospital followed by him skiing again..With a helmet on of course. Exactly a week ago I was lying in the hospital crying, feeling sorry for myself because I would not be able to ski for a month. I felt like my life as I knew it was over. I had plans to ski on the 24th (today..where they are getting tons of snow in VT, and the first weekend in march an all girls trip to Mad River Glen, VT.) I watched the movie when I got home from the hospital on Friday to make my self stop feeling sorry for myself. If CR, one of my skiing heros could come back from square one in just one year, surely one month of not skiing will not kill me. CR was a true inspiration to me and what I consider a leader. CR passed away today while skiing at Squaw Valley, CA. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends. And my thanks are sent to him to being a true leader for me and someone to look up to.

I'll try and add the video of CR's recovery in 2005..but I'm still new to this blogging thing.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4Ji9o8R1Ao

the sad story of his death.http://www.theskichannel.com/news/skinews/20100224/Update-on-circumstances-of-CR-Johnsons-death-at-Squaw-Valley