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Vail denies it sought shooter's suspension

By Bill Scanlon, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published January 8, 2009 at 12:05 a.m.

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Vail Resorts officials Wednesday said they put no pressure on one of their subcontractors, Sharpshooters, which on Tuesday suspended the man who took the widely distributed photos of a man dangling half-naked from a Vail Mountain chairlift.

Marty Odom told the Vail Daily News that he has been suspended until further notice from Sharpshooters, a company that takes pictures of skiers at numerous ski resorts.

"We all know what that means," Odom told the Vail Daily News. "I guess it embarrassed Vail Resorts, and they called (my) shop."

But Kelly Ladyga, director of corporate communications for Vail Resorts, said her company "absolutely did not" put pressure on Sharpshooters to suspend Odom.

Ladyga did acknowledge that "we have talked to them since learning he is a Sharpshooter employee, and they informed us he was suspended due to their company policy."

Comments

  • January 8, 2009

    7:46 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    leavemealone writes:

    What a joke.

    The company should give the guy a raise!

  • January 8, 2009

    9:27 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    c4l2a0 writes:

    I'll repost what I said yesterday because everyone seemed to cruise right by the point I was trying to make..

    Does anyone remember the story back in early December where a man was shot by the police and the RMN took a picture of the deceased's mother as she was shown her son's dead body?

    http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news...

    The picture is there. Take a look.

    Makes me wonder why everyone is so up in arms about this naked guy hanging upside down and what a jerk this photographer is.

    So it's ok for the RMN to post pictures like that under the guise of "journalism", but you guys jump all over this one.

    Some things in life are funny. We all need to just laugh a little. There are many more pictures in the news that truly deserve your criticism.

    The guy took the picture because it was news worthy. The way that people choose to interpret it is up to them and has nothing to do with whether or not the guy should have taken the picture. I was amazed not by the fact that the guy lost his pants, but by the fact that something like this was even possible. Thank you Mr Odom for showing us the dangers!

    Many would like it to be hush-hush and swept under the rug. I feel that would be a diservice to the public who believe that these lifts are completely safe. I can see how it would be an embarrasement to Vail, but not Sharpshooters.

    The guy losing his job is nonsense. Sharpshooters is a spineless company and I will do my best to discourage people from using their services at the resorts. I will take one chance everytime I go up to stand next to these photographers and let people know what kind of company they truly are. (I understand that Vail will not appreciate that, so I will only do it once then ride away, good luck catching me!)

    Good luck Mr. Odom. You'll find a better company to work for.

  • January 8, 2009

    11:08 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    303Centennial writes:

    Sorry but I don't believe Vail or their comments. Where is the 1st Amendment? I guess Sharpshooters and Vail have squashed the 1st Amendment.

    If Vail did not encourage the suspension, then why have they not stepped up and encouraged Sharpshooters to reinstate his employment?

  • January 8, 2009

    12:43 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    jreiter writes:

    Why would anyone believe what Vail says? This is the same Ski Resort who last year made it very clear they did not want any of the "Front Range Riff-Raff" at their resort or town, and then tried to lie about it. Screw Vail! They aren't to be trusted and or believed.

  • January 17, 2009

    7:59 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    toddmccalla writes:

    This guy deserves a medal!

    Todd
    Creative Director
    http://www.vailco.com/