Tyler Wren, an east coast native who now lives in Salt Lake City and races professionally for the Jamis-Sutter Home Pro Cycling Team, has won both iterations of the race (2011 and 2012), back to back. The race had handfuls of hired photographers, videographers, team support cars recording the action, and many racers writing about it on blogs and in magazines and other media.
Not to make anyone feel bad, but we found what might be one of the most beautifully-shot and prepared recap of the Crusher, from visual media and design firm, Lunar/Solar, the brainchild of Trevor Woods and Ben Kuhns from Salt Lake City. With text by local and SaltCycle faithful Zachary Piña, the photos in and design of Lunar/Solar's essay are worth looking at over and over again.
Check out the full story here.
[More after the break from other sources]
Cotton Sox Photography's Facebook album of over 100 photos from the race (from the back of a motorcycle)
Joe Wiggins, a member of the Cutthroat Racing team, wrote about his experience with Crusher below.
The rain is falling lightly, the sun is still trying to poke thru the thick
grey/black ominous clouds, the wind is present but not ‘gusting’ and I am
trying to put some food in me before the race starts. I’ve already given
myself a bit of handicap (I forgot my ‘clip’ shoes) so I am riding today’s
race on Bonniers (Brandons friend and my savior for the race) magnesium
flat pedals. Race director gives us instructions something about be
cautious and careful about lightening strikes, horn sounds flag drops any
my heat is off.
The angry buzz of knobby tires fills the rain soaked air, pace is fast, the
group is large, but thins considerably on the first punchy climb. 6miles
later we are on the dirt. The roads are wet, and filled with puddles, mud,
and sand all the items chains and bearings enjoy. The first 25miles are in
the books, and at the top of the summit I stop and put on my arm
guards on(just
in case my bike wants me to high five the ground again) I begin the descent
from 10,000+ and get to pass thru the clouds – which was pretty awesome. All
the folks who passed me on the dirt downhill - I am now catching up and
passing on the road, as I pass they give shouts of encouragement like ‘it’s
gotta be the shoes’, ‘wow, your riding in those’, ‘when did ADIDAS make
cycling shoes’
Right turn and the next 20 miles are climbing, with 85% of it being on
dirt. I grind up the KOM area (thinking to myself “Shutup Knees! Do what I
tell you!!!”) this is the hardest part of the course for me, because my
cadence is slow, my chain and bottom bracket are popping, creaking and
making sounds only heard during earthquakes. Next 15miles are much easier
and the mileages to go signs are good at keeping my spirits up.
Mileage 5 is very welcome it indicates two miles dirt downhill, and three
miles of paved road. Dirt descent is slow and cautious, road starts off
with a punchy climb – knees tell me “YOU DO WHAT I TELL YOU!”, the next
1/2mile is painful but I push and get to the summit for a quick one mile
descent , where we again turn right and begin the 1mile 850+foot elevation
gain to the finish line. At this point I see two people in front of me, and
I tell myself 1mile and the sooner you get to the top the sooner your knees
can rest. So I PUSH cadence goes from an estimated 50-60rpms, to 90-100rpms
I keep telling myself this is nothing, YOU commute on the BIG dummy with
more weight in it, push and pass push and pass. I keep believing it and
before you know it I’ve reeled in two people, and look up and see 5 other
carrots with 500meters to go, so again I dig deep and PUSH hard picking
them off one at a time, last 50meters I see one more guy, I want to catch
and beat him to the line SO again big push as I get shoulder to shoulder he
steps on it but I’ve already got momentum on my side and slide right past
him entering the finish line first. Once past the line I’m greeted by the
wonderful volunteers from Beaver who take my bike, give me a blanket, a
drink, and some food!
In closing this was A great race! AMAZING Support from the local community!
And this is the only race I’ve ever been to that I’ve had grandma’s and
grandpa’s cheering us on, shouting, clapping, and just making us feel like
we are the stars.
grey/black ominous clouds, the wind is present but not ‘gusting’ and I am
trying to put some food in me before the race starts. I’ve already given
myself a bit of handicap (I forgot my ‘clip’ shoes) so I am riding today’s
race on Bonniers (Brandons friend and my savior for the race) magnesium
flat pedals. Race director gives us instructions something about be
cautious and careful about lightening strikes, horn sounds flag drops any
my heat is off.
The angry buzz of knobby tires fills the rain soaked air, pace is fast, the
group is large, but thins considerably on the first punchy climb. 6miles
later we are on the dirt. The roads are wet, and filled with puddles, mud,
and sand all the items chains and bearings enjoy. The first 25miles are in
the books, and at the top of the summit I stop and put on my arm
guards on(just
in case my bike wants me to high five the ground again) I begin the descent
from 10,000+ and get to pass thru the clouds – which was pretty awesome. All
the folks who passed me on the dirt downhill - I am now catching up and
passing on the road, as I pass they give shouts of encouragement like ‘it’s
gotta be the shoes’, ‘wow, your riding in those’, ‘when did ADIDAS make
cycling shoes’
Right turn and the next 20 miles are climbing, with 85% of it being on
dirt. I grind up the KOM area (thinking to myself “Shutup Knees! Do what I
tell you!!!”) this is the hardest part of the course for me, because my
cadence is slow, my chain and bottom bracket are popping, creaking and
making sounds only heard during earthquakes. Next 15miles are much easier
and the mileages to go signs are good at keeping my spirits up.
Mileage 5 is very welcome it indicates two miles dirt downhill, and three
miles of paved road. Dirt descent is slow and cautious, road starts off
with a punchy climb – knees tell me “YOU DO WHAT I TELL YOU!”, the next
1/2mile is painful but I push and get to the summit for a quick one mile
descent , where we again turn right and begin the 1mile 850+foot elevation
gain to the finish line. At this point I see two people in front of me, and
I tell myself 1mile and the sooner you get to the top the sooner your knees
can rest. So I PUSH cadence goes from an estimated 50-60rpms, to 90-100rpms
I keep telling myself this is nothing, YOU commute on the BIG dummy with
more weight in it, push and pass push and pass. I keep believing it and
before you know it I’ve reeled in two people, and look up and see 5 other
carrots with 500meters to go, so again I dig deep and PUSH hard picking
them off one at a time, last 50meters I see one more guy, I want to catch
and beat him to the line SO again big push as I get shoulder to shoulder he
steps on it but I’ve already got momentum on my side and slide right past
him entering the finish line first. Once past the line I’m greeted by the
wonderful volunteers from Beaver who take my bike, give me a blanket, a
drink, and some food!
In closing this was A great race! AMAZING Support from the local community!
And this is the only race I’ve ever been to that I’ve had grandma’s and
grandpa’s cheering us on, shouting, clapping, and just making us feel like
we are the stars.
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