TR: Crested Butte and Tri-Ungulate winning the Tele Extremes!!

[Raps]

So as some of you may know, i have been out this ski season due to ankle surgery. With the season winding down, i knew i couldn't let the whole season go by, so i booked a week out in CO after getting clearance from my doctor. If i hadn't skied this season it would have been my first completely blown season in 19 years.....aka the first blown season ever for me.

I flew out to Denver and stayed with some friends downtown for a night to do a little partying and then drove up to Vail for a day to rail some groomers. As with any injury, the first day or so coming back is a weird experience. I'm not used to having a speed limit etc... but i started to get the feeling back.

After a marginal day at Vail, i hitched a ride to Crested Butte where some friends had a house and spent the rest of the week there. Let me start off by saying that CB is a sweet ski town. Some great people and some gnarly terrain. Too bad the weather was crappy but i did get to explore enough to make me want to come back when the snow is better. And the 5 or so inches we got when we were there were enough to temp me into some dust on crust chute lines......

Anyway, i happened to be at CB for the weekend of the telemark extreme championships (the only tele extreme comp in the world this year). Turns out Tri-Ungulate decided to enter the Master men category so i met up with him. The conditions as i mentioned were very marginal so there was not a lot of hucking, but everyone ripped it up out there. I was also super impressed with the juniors. Those 14 year olds can rip!

So back to Tri-U. He slayed it all weekend. He was in first after the first day and although the Masters men wasn't as competitive as the open men, he picked much harder lines and skied faster than the rest of em. Going into his final run on the last day he had a big lead. Instead of taking it easy and coasting to victory, he went for it all and ended up blowing his knee. Despite what we assume was a torn ACL, he skied through the finish and ended up taking 1st place in the Masters men. So congrats to Tri-U, you are one tough dude and i hope you recover quickly. Great getting beers with you that night as well.

Then on Sunday was the famous Al Johnson Uphill/ Downhill tele race......the pictures tell the story......some crazy ass costumes.....

All in all, it was just good getting back on skis and by the end i was back to my old self......can't wait till next season and definately enjoyed the whole CB experience.......

Congrats again to Tri-U.....

here are some pics......

Nice little sunrise leaving my beloved city.......


This drive is much better......


Some boozin at the Cracker concert......haha mid 90s rock!


At least we got some new snow....


Location for the Tele Extremes - The Headwall looking pretty bare....


Tri-U standing above his line.....


Tri-U landing and just holding on......


Sorry for the quality.....but Tri-U chargin.....


Finish line....


Blown knee, but still pumped at competing....



to be continued......

[davidhowland14]

looks kinda rocky. nice wipeout shot though.

[AKA]

Well played there Doc hope the knee isn't as bad as you think.

[Raps]

The Al Johnson was a great end to the trip - the sun was out, the beer was flowing and some people got pretty crazy with the costumes......



The lineup for the Al Johnson race.....


Hanz und Franz making it up with the pack.....


Some of you complain of heavy AT setups......imagine skinning in a mattress....


"It's my dick in a box......."


The shower.....



A parting shot of the town.....





Sorry for some of the poor quality shots, but my camera is aging......at least my year didn't have to go by without a ski related TR....

[Harv]

nice. I was there this last weekend must have been just downhill of you at the start of the AJ. Al's Johnson was favorite costume...hilarious. I have never made in over for an AJ before and I have to say judging by the amount of PBR going down at the start line the emphasis was not on athletic excellance...my kind of race! next time you are in the area and you want to ski Monarch Pass, let me know.

[Steven S. Dallas]

Hey, I resemble that photograph...



Couple years ago...

[Trackhead]

Congrats Launce, sorry about your knee.

[goldenboy]

Ha!! Hanz and Franz = John and Dave in real life

[mtnbikerskierchick]

Sounds like you had a true CB experience! CB has such personality, and I like everyone I've met here! I hope I can move here myself soon! At any rate, goldenboy and I were at the Al Johnson as well

I liked the PacMan costume but I thought the ghost should have gone on the other side so PacMan was eating it!

[Tri-Ungulate]

I think that was a split second before I starfished.

I look like I'm gonna cry in that post-run pic - Boo fuggin' hoo ...

Thanks for the pics. Great hanging out w/you Raps, I owe you a round. We'll ski together when you get out here. Nice TR, I wish I'd stayed for the Al Johnson, but had to get back to SLC - the partay looked way cool. I love CB, what a great town.

[Xover]

Raps,

Good to see you back 'round these parts!!! Have missed you for sure; heal back up fully soon to your ripping self. Thanx for the modest TR on 3U; dude kills it for sure - surprising he has the energy he does on 3% body phat

Way to tough it out 3U and get through the finish gate; take your time healing and listen to your body and don't be to afeared of "good" pain ... you won't be a pussy - I know - you da mang!!!

p.s. besides, someone's gotta de-throne Dylan next year ... again, you da mang dawg

[Mr. Altagirl]

Nice work Launce! I REALLY hope the knee isn't as bad as you initially thought. We've been losing a few knees around here lately, hope we can see you at the closing day events (on skis and healthy).

[Raps]

Raps,

Good to see you back 'round these parts!!! Have missed you for sure; heal back up fully soon to your ripping self. Thanx for the modest TR on 3U; dude kills it for sure - surprising he has the energy he does on 3% body phat

Way to tough it out 3U and get through the finish gate; take your time healing and listen to your body and don't be to afeared of "good" pain ... you won't be a pussy - I know - you da mang!!!

p.s. besides, someone's gotta de-throne Dylan next year ... again, you da mang dawg

Thanks brah, wish i could have made it out to SLC this season but hey next season fo sho!


And Tri-U, you earned that round o' beers for sure - i would have been sipping on a Zima back at my hotel room with a box of tissues next to me after the "startfish" you took so kudos to you for toughin it out and glad to hear you might not need to go under the knife

[Raps]

Woah no way - i actually found myself in that picture. I am standing right by the pack, up near the top next to they guy with the ram horns......i'm in red pants, blue jacket - haha if only i had know you guys were there


Good times though