The Perfect Turn

Lloyd Richard Johnson | October 2, 1932 – October 13, 2023

On Friday, October 13th, 2023, Lloyd Johnson passed away at the age of 91 surrounded by his family—three generations of Alta skiers.

[Portrait and opening tribute from Louis Arévalo]

Lloyd Johnson moved to Utah for work in 1973 having never skied before. One Sunday, following a church service in the Town of Alta, a friend convinced him to try skiing for the first time. A few moments later, Lloyd was on the hill learning to snowplow. He was instantly hooked.

"It was the first time I recognized what a passion is, and how blessed you are if you have a passion. It doesn't have to be skiing, but for me, skiing is the epitome of that passion." - Lloyd Johnson

Five decades later, Lloyd could still be found at Alta, ripping beautiful tele-turns into his 90s. He was a recognizable and popular presence at Alta. His passion for skiing was shared with family, friends and the Alta community. He even authored a book documenting his Alta story, The Perfect Turn: Alta and My Ski Experience.

Lloyd followed a strict ski day routine, his “obligatories”. After riding the Ski Bus to Alta, Lloyd would gear up in the Goldminer’s Daughter locker room before catching first chair on Wildcat. Then it was time for a Proper Warm-Up—a hike up Baldy Shoulder to the Tree Jump Gate, further if avalanche mitigation was complete and the gate was open. He'd make a handful of powder turns on the Shoulder, followed by smooth tele turns down Aggie’s Alley—"the best groomer at Alta"—then cruise back down to the base area.

Once his Proper Warm-Up was completed, Lloyd would spend the rest of the day exploring his favorite powder stashes before meeting family and friends at the Albion Grill at 2pm for a cup of coffee from Alta Java and his patented peanut butter sandwich—a piece of bread and third of a jar of peanut butter.

Five days a week for 25 years, this was Lloyd's routine, one he used to help inspire three generations of telemark skiers who now call Alta Ski Area home—and a home-away-from-home for families living out of state.

In the winter of 2016, our good friend Louis Arévalo tagged along with Lloyd on one of his typical days at Alta. Lloyd shared his story, his love of Alta and his passion for skiing.

Video: Louis Arévalo | December 2016

Skiing helped keep Lloyd younger than his actual age. Lloyd believed that having a passion, like skiing, kept you excited to get up each morning. And once you were up and moving, a body in motion would stay in motion. Growing old for Lloyd was a "sour luxury"—it was a blessing to be able to keep skiing, even if it meant finding the same joy on Crooked Mile that you once found on Alf's High Rustler.

Lloyd Johnson's last day skiing Alta was March 17th, 2023, but his family plans to carry forward his passion for skiing and the Alta community.

Lloyd's grandson, Taylor "Tele Tay" Johnson, is an Alta athlete and general manager of Freeheel Life, an online telemark equipment retailer. For decades, Taylor has paid tribute to his grandfather by starting each ski day with a Proper Warm-Up. He knows his first ride up Wildcat this opening day will carry a little more significance and emotional weight, but he is grateful for the opportunity to ride the lift while thinking of his grandfather. He is thankful for the shared passion for telemark skiing, the mountains and the Alta community.

"It’s been a month since he passed, and the family has had the chance to grieve, but also the opportunity to be grateful for the man he was. How he was able to bring his family to the mountains, show them around and introduce his family to the people of Alta.

We are so grateful that he was able to live his life to the fullest. He was an awesome man, a great human and he will be greatly missed. It is quite the honor to call myself his grandson.

I’ve had a season pass at Alta as long as I can

remember, but I still introduce myself as Lloyd’s grandson—not Tele Tay. One day, I hope to make a name for myself up here too."

- Taylor Johnson

Lloyd Johnson's Obituary >

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