Lost (stolen?) Skis

[ber188]

I was in the Race of Champions on Saturday 3/24/2018 skiing on Atomic GS-D2 174 cm and took them off at the race start and laid them on the snow next to the snow fence. I watched the Pacesetters and half of the women go down the course. I then went to find my skis, but they were no where to be found. Very close to where I left my skis was a pair of Atomic Redsters 169 cm. Getting desperate, I stepped into the bindings and found the bindings fit perfect! One of two things crossed my mind. 1 - a women had put on my skis by accident and ran the course. 2 - someone not in the Race of Champions traded their skis for my skis - as in stolen. I talked with the 'Race Starter', he radioed down to the race finish and PA announcements where made for racers to check to see if they had their own skis and not mine - no responses. So, if anyone had anything to contribute, let me know. I have filed a police report with the Placer County Sherriff and will file a claim with my insurance company. This was my 20th year at the Nationals and a first for having my equipment stolen since I started skiing in 1965.

Tom

[patmoore]

Tom - that's awful. I thought mine had been stolen from a rack but it was just a case of cranial flatulence. I had put them in a rack a hundred yards away. We did experience a theft at the Saturday dinner. My wife's Penn State drawstring bag was taken from under a table. Two days later her wallet with credit cards, medicare card, driver's license, etc. was turned in to Security but the bag itself, all the cash, and a few other items are still missing. Good luck getting your skis back.

[ber188]

Pat,

Since my skis 'wandered off' during the women's Race of Champions (and before the men's race) and since the Atomic Redster 169 cm bindings fit my boots exactly, I'm pretty convinced that one of the women with the same shell size boots as mine picked up my skis instead of hers. But, despite PA announcements at the race finish, she still left the race area with my skis. I can't understand how someone racing at this level does not know what skis they have stepped into.

Tom

[patmoore]

Two years ago I was racing in our Monday Night Race league and was in line behind a woman from our club (reigning club champ) and saw that she had Redster 169 cm skis. On the second run I noticed she was now on 174 cm skis! Our men's club champ was frantically looking for his skis at the base of the hill. They have the same boot sole length. She got out of line and swapped with him in time for both of them to get in their runs.

My name is written on my skis with a Sharpie. If the surface wasn't dimpled, I'd have a prominent decal displayed to discourage that kind of mistake.

Fast forward two years, our club champ (Rob Dexter who won 65-69 Platinum this year) was staying at my place in Vermont and was using my tuning bench to wax and tune his Redsters before a race clinic. He did a great job on them but when he finished and put on the straps he saw the name MOORE written on the ski! I have an identical pair of Redsters. I thanked him and then beat him in our club championship by 0.03.

[JTBear]

Wow Tom, I am really disappointed to hear this news. Arrrggghhhh!! It's such a sad thought that someone, anyone left the race start area on your race skis and then literally leaving you few 1000 feet up an icy, snow covered mountain? You simply cannot make that one up......

I agree with your assessments:

A) Clueless in California
or
B) Stolen at Squaw

Either scenario stinks.

Best to you,

The Bear

[patmoore]

Tom - I just posted the following the NASTAR Racers Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/groups/23466878896/

Attention racers returning home from Squaw Valley - did you mistakenly take a pair of 174 cm Atomic GS D2 skis? One of our racers was entered in the Race of Champions but when he went to put on his skis that had been lying in the snow all he could find was a pair of 169s with the same binding size adjustment. The mixup might have occurred with someone in the Women's ROC. If you inadvertently grabbed the wrong skis, contact me and I'll put you in touch with the individual. Thanks.