Crushar in the Tushar Recap with Griffin Easter

The 2022 Crushar in the Tushar marked the event’s 11-year anniversary. The brainchild of director Burke Swindlehurst, the ‘22 edition was particularly bittersweet. Burke finally passed along the director-torch, took a step back, and for his first time, raced the Crushar in the Tushar.

For me, I couldn’t think a better way to experience my first Crusher. It was a true honor, and I want to thank Burke and his team for perfecting an event that I will remember forever and continue to race for years to come.

Kicking off at 7 AM, the sun licking the western-facing Tushars, we rolled out from the sleepy town of Beaver, Utah, and headed towards highway 153. Notable names in the field included Keegan Swenson, Laurens Ten Dem, Ted King, Lachlan Morton, Alex Howes, Alexey Vermeulen, Howard Grotts, Peter Stetina, Kiel Reijnen, Russell Finsterwald, and Payson McElveen. The first 40 minutes were mellow, every rider conserving as much as they could before the knives were due to come out going uphill.

Making the turn onto Highway 153, the unofficial start hit. The group picked up pace, gearing up for continual attacks on the hour-long climb. Howard Grotts and Keegan Swenson ripped the field apart, leaving myself and everyone else quite literally in their dust. I redlined trying to follow, took a few deep breaths, geared down, and began the methodical chase back.

Settling into a natural pace, I started to pick off rider after rider, linking for a few pulls before distancing them to march forward. Before I knew it, I was back with the front group, joining Stetina, Vermeulen, and McElveen. We rolled the top, and descended the Col d’Crush, a bone-rattling experience causing a mechanical I had to address. Washboard was everywhere and no line was safe.

About 3 hours into the race, the front group had grown to 10 riders, resting in the base of the Tushars before the long climb back up. After we hit the initial climb “The Sarlacc Pit,” riders began to fall off on its steep grades and loose gravel, setting the tone for the war of attrition heading to the Col d’Crush. At this point just five remained in the front group, chasing Swenson.

The Col d’Crush did not disappoint. Stetina, Grotts, Cole Paton and myself made up the front group, prepared to duke it out up 10% grades, sweltering heat, and heinous washboard. No matter how hard you tried, you could not find a smooth line, and more often than not, the smoothest line was also preferred by fellow competitors descending the Crush. By the top, our group was just 3, as Grotts lost contact.

By this point, Swenson was too far ahead to reel back, so our front group was battling for the remaining two podium spots. With three riders left, one would miss out on the podium.

The final climb into the finish was short but punchy. At 3/10ths-of-a-mile to go I put in a dig, distancing both Stetina and Paton. I could see the finish but my legs were burning from my efforts. I looked back and saw Paton charging quickly as well as Stetina. Paton passed me. I thought I had nothing left. However, I told myself to dig deeper. I kicked again and at the end managed to make distance back on Paton and keep my spot ahead of Stetina. However, it was too little too late. Paton finished 2nd and I held on for 3rd.

The Crusher in the Tushar is a serious race. The altitude combined with the rough terrain and 10,000 feet of elevation gain make it the only mountain top finish gravel race in the USA. The landscape and views are jaw dropping and unforgettable. No matter if your experience was at the front or back, The Crusher is a race everyone needs to put on their bucket list.

With its generous tire clearance, wide wheelbase and progressive gravel geometry, the Canyon Grizl was my preferred bike to take on the Crusher in the Tushar. Rugged, durable, and built for harsh conditions, my bike survived some of the most brutal gravel conditions in the American race calendar, and carried me to a strong podium finish.

The mission and goal of the OpiCure Foundation is to utilize the bicycle and gravel community to help individuals struggling with opioid use disorder. We believe that through education, destigmatization, and the showcasing the power that a bicycle can provide, we can combat the opioid crisis in this country.