Chad's Gap
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Chad's gap is one of the most well known and prominent gap jumps in the world. Formed in Utah's Wasatch Mountains, across the street from Alta Ski Area in Grizzly Gulch.
[edit] History
It is named after Chad Zurinskas, who in 1999 after hiking in the area found the two mining piles, and decided it would be possible to jump them on skis. Together with Candide Thovex, Andy Brewer, Brent Benson and ski-movie maker Kris Ostness they built a 5-foot jump to try and clear the gap. Chad tried twice and failed, but just as the film equipment was being packing up Candide Thovex asked Chad's persmission to attempt the gap. On his second try he landed it, pulling at that time the, "largest, cleanest mute grab ever recorded!"[1] Not to be shown up a few days later Chad succeeded on his third attempt of the day. Brent Benson was able to capture Chad's successful attempt and did an article about it bringing the gap to the world's attention.[2]
A huge kicker is necessary, and you must hit it at at least 50 miles per hour to have a shot at clearing the gap. Depending on the snow and how well the launch ramp is built, the 2006 ramp was a 14-foot buffed ski run, skiiers can get a 120-foot soar.
"There have always been ‘gap jumps’, just like there have always been ‘extreme skiers’. But Chad’s Gap started the craze." -- Kristen Ulmer[3]
Tanner Hall broke both of his ankles attempting the gap. He also made several successful jumps while preparing to film "Teddy Bear Crisis", including a Switch 540 and a few switch 900's, to be seen in numerous freeski videos.
Chad's Gap has also been used by many snowboarders, including Travis Rice and Romain De Marchi, who completed a backside 540, switch backside 540, cab 720, a backside rodeo 720, as well as a frontside double cork 1080 across the gap in the snowboarding video "Pop - Absinthe"
[edit] See also
- Pyramid Gap - For more pedestrian skiers just up the gulch from Chad's Gap, it does not have nearly the danger involved.
[edit] External links
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