Feb 25, 2010
.jpg) Squaw Valley, CA — Freeskiing pioneer and prodigy Charles Russell Johnson III, 26, died yesterday while skiing at Squaw Valley, CA, on the Light Towers run off the Headwall lift. According to eyewitnesses, Johnson was skiing the steep run (according to Squaw Valley’s ski report, the mountain received 12-14 inches) comprised of tight chutes and exposed rocks. A statement issued by the resort reported that the Lake Tahoe native caught an edge on exposed rocks while entering the Light Towers area above the Cornice II lift. He fell through rocks before coming to a rest several hundred yards below the entry. Ski Patrol were on the scene within minutes, but efforts to revive Johnson failed. He was reportedly wearing a helmet.
“C.R. possessed a perspective for the mountains and the sport of skiing that transcended skiers all around the world to new heights,” says 4FRNT Skis’ Matt Sterbenz, who sponsored Johnson and assisted him in the design of C.R.’s pro model ski, the CRJ. “His creative vision and positive personality brought the best out of anyone he ever met. He will remain a huge influence on my life and the many others that were fortunate to know him.”
An infectious skier and personality, Johnson was a pioneer in halfpipe skiing and bringing park-style skiing to the backcountry. He filmed for ski industry leaders Teton Gravity Research and MSP Films before starting his own ski film production company with best friend and ski star Tanner Hall. The Truckee, CA, native and resident was a U.S. Open Big Air champion and two-time Winter X Games medalist (2001 Big Air bronze and 2002 Slopestyle silver).
C.R. (left) on the Slopestyle podium (silver medal) at 2002 X-Games along with Tanner Hall (gold) and Jon Olsson (bronze). Photo: Shazamm/ESPN
In recent years Johnson had made an inspiring return to skiing after a traumatic brain injury that he suffered in December 2005 when another skier landed on him. He was induced in a coma for 10 days during his 34-day stay at the University of Utah hospital before returning home to his parents’ house in the Tahoe area.
 “C.R. was much more than an athlete to Smith Optics,” says Gabe Schroder, Ski Promotions Manager of Smith Optics—one of the companies to continue a sponsorship of C.R. after his injury in 2005. “He was a friend, a brother, and an amazing person that we all believed in. We are deeply saddened by his passing and our thoughts and prayers go out to his entire family.”
Recently, C.R. was taking online college classes in design while evolving his star-studded ski career. C.R appeared in Poor Boyz Productions 2009 release Everyday Is A Saturday and has been filming for Level 1 Productions during the 2009-10 winter. This past January C.R. placed third at the Red Bull Line Catcher event a big mountain freestyle contest in Vars, France, competing against some of the world’s best skiers.
C.R. Johnson is survived by his parents Loraine and Russ and his older sister Kahlil. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends during this devastating time.
Micah Abrams has posted an informative story on C.R. Johnson at ESPN. Read it here.
Photo: C.R. took 4th in the 2005 X-Games Superpipe Finals. Credit: Tony Donaldson/Shazamm/ESPN
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