CR Johnson Movie Review

Ryan Mulcahy |

watch the full CRJ movie here free

Recently, 4FRNT skis released the documentary highlighting the career and life of CR Johnson. In the wake of the many annual ski movie releases the CR documentary stood out to me for a large variety of reasons. The video brought to light first and foremost how great a person CR was and secondly how amazing a skier he was. I feel this is important due to the fact that no matter how progressive or outstanding a skier is, in the end it’s the person that leaves there mark on the world, and CR did just this. Another Squaw Valley legend Shane McConkey‘s documentary was released this year and echoed a similar theme, both with strong messages to take to heart.

 

CRJ at the X games in San Francisco, CA in 1999.
CRJ at the X games in San Francisco, CA in 1999.

The CRJ documentary made to point something I always knew and loved about CR, his humbleness. At a very young age CR stood out in a big way and was doing things on skis that no one else had done previously. Furthermore he was expanding and progressing skiing on all fronts, park, pipe, urban, freestyle and backcountry. In addition he was one of the first, if not the first to be able to transition styles taking park tricks to the back country. With all of this he still remained very humbled and modest. His focus in life was being happy, creating stoked and passing positive energy on to those who where around him. He let the skiing do the talking and yet at the same time never let the success it brought change his personality.

 

Skiing Owes these two a huge thank you.
Skiing Owes these two a huge thank you.  CRJ and Tanner Hall.

Skiing owes big thanks to CRJ for all that he did and all that he brought to the sport on all levels. Much of the progression we see today has its roots in what CR started. The documentary only briefly highlights a very important relationship that changed skiing in a big way. This was the relationship that existed between CR and Tanner Hall. The Batman and Robin of skiing from early 2000s up until CR’s death. The two had an insatiable relationship which resulted in them feeding off each other and bringing skiing into a whole new world. Together the two dominated skiing and it seemed that virtually no one could come even close the success they shared. What made the relationship even stronger were the opposite personalities between CR and THall. As previously mention CR was a quiet, humble, to himself person who always was seeking stoked and happy for those around him. While Tanner was somewhat similar in this, yet he was the in your face and had loud dominance that we have come to love about him. This combination of personalities created the strongest friendship skiing ever saw. I feel allot of what Tanner was doing had the goal of separating the skiing he and CR were doing from the stereotype that existed at the time for skiers, which many times was associated with racing.

CRJ
CRJ

The documentary was well written, sourced and seemed to reflect a positive message.  Much of what CR brought to the world lives on through the progression we see in skiing today, the energy that is felt from those he came in contact with, and most importantly his name sake rehabilitation center in Truckee CA. The CR Johnson healing center has helped hundreds of athletes recover from their injuries suffered while perusing there passions. There is a brief insight in the beginning of the movie highlighting some of the people that make the center such a great place. CR came back from a dramatic head injury in the height of career to pursue even more skiing dominance and from this I hope other injured athletes will gain inspiration.  If you enjoyed the documentary here is a link to the healing center website please donate what you can and what you feel is appropriate.

https://highfivesfoundation.org/donate/


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4 thoughts on “CR Johnson Movie Review

  1. “the feeling i get from skiing, thats worth dying for” -CR Johnson

    No matter which way you stand when going down a mountain this dude is a true inspiration.

    Saddens me to have never had the chance to meet such an awsome human,

    CS

  2. Great write up, and the movie inspired me as well. I think I need to dust off my skis and hit the slopes

  3. CR sounds like an inspiration to a lot of people. And now me too. The way he progressed skiing is amazing because he did it through his desire and passion to simply just get out and ski. Actions speak louder than words and CR proved that by being a humble person and doing what he loved. CR makes me want to push myself and see what i am capable of. Cant wait for my next session. Im stoked for it (=

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