The Story Behind The Vail Chairlift Photo
anniefast
- January 06 2009
- 15,753 views
- 138 comments
It’s the pic with endless punchlines, but really WTF? We went to the trouble of checking our inbox and here’s what the photographer Marty Odom had to say:
“Hello, my name is Marty Odom and I live in Vail, Colorado. I am/was a photographer on the mountain for Sharpshooter imaging. On my day off I pulled up to the lift line to see a naked man hanging from the chair lift. I happen to have my own camera with me and I shot a few pics. It was Jan. 1st and I shot the best photo that I’m going to shoot all year. I then sent it in to the Vail Daily, where it got printed the next day.The liftie forgot to put the seat down on the chair and somehow the man got stuck in the position that he was in. The chair wasn’t even stopped by the liftie, someone in the lift line had to punch the button. And even though I never mentioned the company I worked for, Vail Resorts pulled my pass and it looks like I’m going to lose my job over a photo. But the photo is worth it.
“The reason for all my ranting is that I hope you guys might enjoy this photo a whole lot. And if there is any kind of contest for “super gaper” or something that maybe I could submit it. And I thought u guys might enjoy the story behind it, the fact that it was enough to lose my job over.”
What a way to start the new year. Thanks to Marty for sending the pic our way. It’s safe to say that this would never have happened on a snowboard. Let the clever comments begin …
»
January 6th, 2009 at 7:47 pm
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA
January 6th, 2009 at 7:55 pm
complete and utter bullshit!
1.he was not on the clock
2.he used his own cam
3.this clown and vail both really deserve this…..
I hope this helps Marty’s overall career!
January 6th, 2009 at 7:56 pm
Owned.
January 6th, 2009 at 7:56 pm
the guy would be suing anyone even if that picture wasnt posted
January 6th, 2009 at 7:56 pm
That looks like a wang-danglin’ good time.
January 6th, 2009 at 8:03 pm
Maybe you should offer Marty a job………..I think that’d be generous
January 6th, 2009 at 8:10 pm
the tree bonk has become the upside-down-naked-guy-helmet bonk
now with 30% more rad
January 6th, 2009 at 8:33 pm
give him a job
January 6th, 2009 at 8:42 pm
this is what happens to skiers…on the lifts.
January 6th, 2009 at 9:09 pm
bravo to this guy. This picture is the funniest onhill picture I have ever seen.
January 6th, 2009 at 9:10 pm
this guy def deserves a job if he can catch some chill fotos like this one.
January 6th, 2009 at 9:18 pm
hang out with your wang out
January 6th, 2009 at 9:24 pm
those are definately poo stains
January 6th, 2009 at 9:34 pm
dopeeeeee
January 6th, 2009 at 9:40 pm
they pulled his pass at Vail!!!!!!! for what possible reason? Because he took a photo…… Ridiculous
January 6th, 2009 at 9:44 pm
Omg that is the best photo ever! Thanks for sharing marty
January 6th, 2009 at 9:44 pm
if in doubt, whip it out
January 6th, 2009 at 9:46 pm
thats hilarious
January 6th, 2009 at 9:47 pm
I’m going on record saying this whole story is fishy… I’m smelling fun with PhotoShop
January 6th, 2009 at 9:52 pm
Vail sucks
January 6th, 2009 at 9:56 pm
ha ha oh well, if hes american ,he would have probably sued even if there was a little snow on the seat anyways,, its his bailout plan for the economy,
January 6th, 2009 at 10:23 pm
When in doubt…. whip it out
January 6th, 2009 at 10:33 pm
that was me
January 6th, 2009 at 10:34 pm
that was joe
January 6th, 2009 at 10:42 pm
the liftie was a snowboarderr
January 6th, 2009 at 10:44 pm
looks to me like he actually shit his pants…good one joe!
January 6th, 2009 at 11:23 pm
Check out a couple more pics here:
http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2009/0106091vail1.html
January 6th, 2009 at 11:28 pm
hahah im sorry, but that is absolutly no reason to sue someone over. If that happened to me i would laugh my ass off and show all my friends…what a pussy.
January 6th, 2009 at 11:33 pm
I was an adult before I got the courage to take ski lessons. When I’m going that fast I like to have something around me…like a CAR! Well, I took lessons twice. Each and every time I’d get to the ski life I’d stand there all prepared to get on the lift BUT just before I was to get on it I’d dive forward. The chair was go on it’s path up the slope. Seeing this picture just confirms to me I DON’T belong on a ski lift. I’ll parasail no problem, but forget ski lifts! Blessings, Christine Bean, http://www.christinebean.com
January 6th, 2009 at 11:37 pm
HAHAHAHA this is so outrageous, HOW does that happen? like really?
January 6th, 2009 at 11:55 pm
once a turd always a turd. next time wipe a little better.
January 7th, 2009 at 12:45 am
HAHAHAH that effin funny, but its bullshit about his job, wrongful termination? and wtf pull his pass? lame!
January 7th, 2009 at 12:59 am
no one gives a shit lady
January 7th, 2009 at 1:45 am
He should look into his rights because there are certain exceptions when media is presented in the news. Especially since this photo doesnt reveal is identity. Vail and his employer maybe be infringing on his given rights and make it possible to counter sue against.
January 7th, 2009 at 1:46 am
Way to go, Marty. So you’ll go w/o riding Vail-owned hills and you might have to wash dishes for a bit, but VR’s got a big black eye over their reaction, you can hit up Copper half an hour away, and your name just became worldwide knowledge overnight just because you were in the right place at the right time, so I doubt you’ll be washing dishes for long. I think you won the war.
January 7th, 2009 at 1:47 am
have you been working out?
January 7th, 2009 at 2:28 am
awesome picture, hope something works out for him
January 7th, 2009 at 2:36 am
What does the picture have to do with someone suing them? BS!
January 7th, 2009 at 2:48 am
This was the funniest comment i saw hah
January 7th, 2009 at 5:13 am
hahah, that is the best comment yet!
January 7th, 2009 at 5:18 am
haha, word
January 7th, 2009 at 5:23 am
ahah, give this man a job at TWSNOW!
January 7th, 2009 at 5:43 am
so fuckin funny, gappers are so fuckin dumb there allways falling offf chairs or hanging from them…..i see this type of shit everyday i go to work at wack breck. Heres another reason to say fuck all vail resorts, after this year im never riding at one of there wack resorts again. Im a lifty at breck and after 2 seasons of bullshit it has drove me crazy, they don’t treat there core employees right at all. The people that can barely ride or never have before they came out Here get training for shit that i want to do, again FUCK VAIL RESORTS!!!!!
January 7th, 2009 at 6:23 am
um so sue back for being fired wrongfully. Your job cant fire you for something you did while not on the clock. Sue the shit out of them and tie them up in court for as long as you can. And that guy has shit stains on his thigh.
January 7th, 2009 at 6:49 am
every ski rider should forced to ride a lift like that!!!
January 7th, 2009 at 6:52 am
youre sounding like everyone on the surf websites now
January 7th, 2009 at 7:02 am
If that is the way this guys employeer and vail responds because this guy took a photo on his personal time with his own camera. People should boycott both of them. Great photo Marty I LMAO.
January 7th, 2009 at 9:12 am
just because your rich and ride vail doesnt mean you can get away without wiping your ass
January 7th, 2009 at 9:44 am
AHAHAHAHA thats hilarious. deffinitly give him a job
January 7th, 2009 at 9:57 am
How do you lose your snow pants, thermals AND undies? Haha, I wish they didn’t stop the lift so he would ride up the whole way to the top like that. But seriously, Marty could sue for wrongful firing if he gets fired. It was off the clock and there’s no way to ID the guy or the place.
January 7th, 2009 at 10:18 am
Good thing he didn’t catch it from the frozen banana angle, banana being generous… baby carrot being realistic. I mean to sue over something like this? I mean come on now lets be a big boy and put the seat down ourselves. Go Marty!
January 7th, 2009 at 10:19 am
yeah seriously? haha who are you and why are you telling us your lifestory?
January 7th, 2009 at 10:21 am
PS buy a fucking ninja suit bro!
January 7th, 2009 at 10:29 am
What’s so funny? That’s how I take the lift everytime
January 7th, 2009 at 10:49 am
I feel ya man, Vail Resorts fucked me in the ass. For all of you who may be thinking about working for the company… DON’T! I have nothing good to say about the company other than they own some nice mountains. FUCK YOU VAIL RESORTS!!!!!!
January 7th, 2009 at 10:50 am
word
January 7th, 2009 at 10:52 am
Imagine what itd be like to be the kid sitting next to that cool guy
January 7th, 2009 at 11:04 am
Yeah sure. First of all, in CO, you are an “at will” employee and can be fired any time for any reason. There is no such thing as “wrongful termination”, although lawyers would beg to differ by rattling their swords and often get settlements just to avoid civil arguments and court costs.
Secondly, this is no different than an off-duty cop. If a cop does something off duty, it is the same as if he is on-duty. This dude, Marty, worked for a publisher. He can’t claim special priviledges just because he was off the clock. Come on. He attempted to circumvent his employer. Now he is “independent”.
January 7th, 2009 at 11:06 am
ya thats a sick idea
January 7th, 2009 at 11:08 am
I know the guy in the pic and I can tell you he always skiis all the way to the bottom.
January 7th, 2009 at 11:36 am
An asshole is exposed…. literally.
January 7th, 2009 at 11:58 am
yeeee co-signed
January 7th, 2009 at 12:53 pm
whatever CEO for vail. a little ass never hurt anyone. but then again this is a big ass
January 7th, 2009 at 1:31 pm
lol, this is the what the caption to the picture should say.
January 7th, 2009 at 1:32 pm
Somewhere, in this Windy Valley … is the lost Dutchman’s mine.
January 7th, 2009 at 2:14 pm
“Vail Resorts pulled my pass and it looks like I’m going to lose my job over a photo”
Fuck Vail. I just canceled my planned visit in February. I’ll hit up Breck instead.
Pulling a pass for taking a picture? What assholes.
Oh and the guy who is suing is a jackass.
January 7th, 2009 at 2:16 pm
I’m glad u guys like the pic. I’ve gone national over night. I was told today that I’m still suspended but not fired yet, and they are trying to claim ownership to all the photos. And you’re right I represent them even when not working. So I will probably get sued for all the money I’ve been offered as well. I need a lawyer!
P.S. Any Job Openings??
January 7th, 2009 at 2:30 pm
ahahahahaha!!!!
January 7th, 2009 at 2:36 pm
It just doesn’t make sense. How can the seat be flipped up when the kid is sitting next to him just fine? And how the hell did he slide out of his pants? The ski didn’t detach from the binding, but he managed to pull his foot out of the boot? This skier must have been clowning around.
January 7th, 2009 at 2:51 pm
You would laugh and never think of suing, that is, until a lawyer approaches you with the idea of how much you could get from Vail!
When Vail so quickly burns the photographer, I’m sure they would be eager to settle out of court and bury this little mishap in a snowbank.
January 7th, 2009 at 2:55 pm
“”Madoff | 0 Props | 2009-01-07 14:14:43 0“Vail Resorts pulled my pass and it looks like I’m going to lose my job over a photo”
Fuck Vail. I just canceled my planned visit in February. I’ll hit up Breck instead.
Pulling a pass for taking a picture? What assholes.
Oh and the guy who is suing is a jackass.”"
—————————————————————-
News Flash Madoff Breck is owned by Vail Resorts Management Company
January 7th, 2009 at 2:57 pm
. . . and so very proud to be his son!
January 7th, 2009 at 3:03 pm
Marty owns full rights to any photo he shoots on his own time, unless his contract with Sharpshooter specifies otherwise. Get to know the copyright laws!
January 7th, 2009 at 3:05 pm
Get a lawyer who knows COPYRIGHT LAW. They’re trying to pull a fast one on you! DO NOT GIVE IN!
January 7th, 2009 at 3:09 pm
MARTY! Start with this:
http://www.editorialphoto.com/copyright/
January 7th, 2009 at 3:10 pm
WOW!!! first i have to congradulate the guy who took this pic, Good Job!! but second I think it is compleatly unfair that he is loosing his job and losing his pass, its not like he was even at
work. Some people are just stupid, the guy on the lift is one of those people. I think that he did this purpously just to get money cuz how the HELL!! do you slide out of your pants. I think marty did the right thing taking the pic, and i commend him for it.
January 7th, 2009 at 3:17 pm
Extreme. “The XXX Games”. Give him his pass back, Vail. You can let your SEO go. This guy just did more to optimize “Vail” on the web than he’ll ever do for you.
January 7th, 2009 at 3:45 pm
heres the sequence
http://www.break.com/index/dude-falls-off-ski-lift.html
January 7th, 2009 at 4:00 pm
This should be the cover of the 09′ photo issue.
January 7th, 2009 at 4:01 pm
NO ITS TRUE THE RADIO STATIONS IN CALI WERE TALKING ABOUT IT
January 7th, 2009 at 4:23 pm
That poor kid next to him will be scarred for life and need major psychological help. maybe that is why this guy is suing? to help pay for the kids shrink bills.
January 7th, 2009 at 4:36 pm
A new episode for “Shrinkage” on Seinfeld’s reunion show…
January 7th, 2009 at 5:06 pm
COVER OF ANY ISSUE, THE ASS CLOWN IN THE PHOTO DESERVES THE HUMILIATION!!!!
January 7th, 2009 at 5:12 pm
I want the address of guy in the picture. I will personally buy him a plaque saying “Officially the worst skier in the world, yes yes, i am that guy who has the entire lift shut down for 30 mins cuz i am a dumb ass”
January 7th, 2009 at 5:36 pm
I guess you can’t blame him for shitting himself.
January 7th, 2009 at 5:58 pm
fuck vail resorts
January 7th, 2009 at 6:25 pm
funniest comment this guy shouldnt be suing. this is the biggest fail i have ever seen. he doesnt deserve to sue lol. props to marty for the clutch photo though.
January 7th, 2009 at 6:30 pm
true that hahahaha
January 7th, 2009 at 7:12 pm
Ridiculous! Plenty of kids have seen their fathers wiener. This will be a laugh in the family for generations!
January 7th, 2009 at 8:18 pm
TRANSWORLD SNOWBOARDING NEEDS TO GIVE MARTY A JOB
January 7th, 2009 at 8:21 pm
Yah…It was on Good Morning America.
January 10th, 2009 at 10:22 pm
You should all read this before giving marty or transworld too much credit:
http://www.vaildaly.com/article/20090108/NEWS/901089974/1001/FRONTPAGE&title=Photo%20company%20sorry%20for%20naked%20Vail%20skier%20pic
January 11th, 2009 at 12:13 am
On-ya! awsome pic, surely you can’t lose your job over this , you should be get’in a BONUS!
January 11th, 2009 at 12:55 am
anna what it was your brother or dad would it be so funny.does your personal privacy me so little.he shouldnt have taken the photo
January 11th, 2009 at 12:59 am
If Mr Odom loses his job over this, everyone with a sense of humour should boycott Vail
January 11th, 2009 at 3:51 pm
The Caption Should Be “IT WAS COLD OUT!”
January 12th, 2009 at 10:02 am
screw vail! i hope marty sues and takes over vail. vail is full of snoby stuck up prick skiers anyway. i’ll never go back(that is unless marty takes over). nice pic and i hope everything works out for u marty.
January 12th, 2009 at 3:19 pm
This comes under freedom if information.
It is a situation that the so called celebrities have to put up with all the time.
OK, it’s the crooks’ - aka Lawyers - dreams of striking a pot of gold.
The victim should just grin and bear, and remember than thousands would give their eye teeth to attract as much attention.
January 15th, 2009 at 10:03 pm
owned.
thats for sure.
hahaha.
January 17th, 2009 at 9:01 pm
If you actually believe that liftie was a snowboarder you either need glasses or you have analytical issues. You can see his foot sticking out of the lift to the right and his floating other foot’s ski in front of the kid’s foot.
January 17th, 2009 at 10:59 pm
Fuck Vail!!! Come to Tahoe! You just can’t work at Heavenly…lol
January 23rd, 2009 at 9:47 am
LOL! I hope he was de-BRIEFED to deal with the mental/emotions scars of this traggic ordeal….
February 11th, 2009 at 11:36 am
Skid marks from last week
February 28th, 2009 at 9:02 pm
Doesn’t Vail own Breck? Same company?
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