The folks at Alta Community Enrichment (ACE) just hung up an incredible piece of art by Kristen Frailey honoring one of the most historic sends in the history of winter sports. The large scale mural is based on a photograph taken by Brent Benson in 1999, which captures the first person to hit Chad’s gap, Chad Zurinskas.
In the ensuing 25 years since Zurinskas braved the 120-foot jump, Chad’s Gap has become an iconic destination for the world’s best skiers and snowboarders to test their skills in the air between two piles of mine tailings about .5 miles northeast of Alta.
In a very special moment, Benson, Chad, and Kristen all lent a hand get this this beauty take its place of honor.
2024 mural by kristen frailey
Project Summary / Description
This mural is based on a photograph taken by Brent Benson in 1999, which captures the first person to hit Chad’s gap, Chad Zurinskas. The new mural will be designed to complement the existing mural of Alf Engen jumping over Highway 210 that is currently on the community center building. This will serve as a tribute to both Alf and the start of the modern era of skiing and photography. Read about the photo and jump here.
Artist Selected – 2024 – Kristen Frailey
Kristen moved to Utah in 2021 to live a life closer to the mountains with a vague notion of getting into landscape painting with watercolors. I never expected to fall in love with Utah as much as I did and I have been obsessed with capturing the magic I have found here ever since. Three years later and I am still just as obsessed as ever, though I have expanded the mediums I use to include oil painting and digital art as well
Artist Statement
Painting has become a way for me to merge my love of the outdoors with my love of art. Each painting I do starts as a photo, some memory of an adventure, whether it be hiking, climbing, or skiing. I take that photo back home where it becomes a painting in my studio. I aim to create art that captures the wonder of these places that we all feel collectively when we visit them, as well as to honor that which is worth protecting in the West.
Chad’s Gap has been featured in many ski and snowboard films over the years, here are few notable clips:
Candide Thovex 120-Foot D-Spin 720 after slamming the wall 4 times:
2019 session with Sage Kotsenburg:
Travis Rice overshoot by a county mile: