I raced in 2011 World Finals Vintage Ski. In the events leading up to World Finals this year, no one could tell me if vintage skis were running in the regional Parker race or anywhere else that would qualify me to race in World Finals.
Later the World Finals schedule was released on IJSBA site stating that Vintage ski and X2 will be on, with practice and 2 motos. There was also a "*See special requirements online*" note, but I could not and neither could many of the other 550 riders find any special rules specified for vintage ski. Only rules found were the specs for what you could do to your ski.
Saturday Sep. 29, 2012 I went to pre-register. Filled out the sign up form and IJSBA renewal form and stood in line for about an hour. Got to the desk and the nice ladies had input all my info for registration. They called Scott Frazier up to make sure I could race. He said because I had not qualified for any races this year that I could not race, even though I competed last year in vintage ski. He had stated that I could race any race on any ski to qualify and then show up and race vintage ski only. I told him that the 550 is the only ski I own and can afford to ride.
The IJSBA staff had left my registration info in the system with hopes that I could still race.
I heard all day Sunday and Monday morning that others were allowed to compete without qualifying. So, Monday Oct. 1 I went to late signups in the upper parking lot of Crazy Horse Campgrounds. I asked for registration and renewal forms. I turned in the forms and my cash payment of $255.00 for class, pit pass, and membership renewal. The staff put my wristband on and said good luck and enjoy. I was happy to be racing again.
After the riders meeting, for which only 2 of us showed up as IJSBA did not say anything about, nor have a schedule of practice yet, they made a few of us believe this was just another exhibition race. The staff saw there was no practice for us, so they let 2 of us do a last chance practice. Checking the pit board to see how many racers were in vintage ski, I noticed the list had been made on Sep 29, 2012 with my name on there (see photo).
Prior to my race I was looking for my race holder so we could practice starts. Scott Frazier saw me and grabbed the first Security guard to have me removed for tress passing on the track, pits and the grounds. This did not make sense to me or anyone that was around when it happened. I tried to explain to him that I had paid and registered or else I wouldn't have a racers band and vehicle pit pass and my name on the the pit board to be racing. Scott Frazier replied he would not refund my money and called me a liar and said I had stolen the passes. After getting escorted to the pits, security told me to get in my car and leave. They did not want to allow me to gather my gear or even tie my ski down. Luckily some PRO competitors that i was pitted with were able to talk to Scott Frazier to let me come back to spectator area.
However, I left World Finals before the Vintage Ski race even began. I wanted to support my other fellow 550 riders, but could not withstand the idea that Scott Frazier was also watching with a smile as I was not racing.
Sunday, Oct. 8, 2012 I checked IJSBA website to see the results of the rest of my new friends in the sport. To my surprise IJSBA had recognized me as being registered to race, and even though I did not get to actually race, they had tied me in 5th Place with a DNS.
At the event ceremony everyone heard the announcer call my name as "the local from Lake Havasu, Cory Van Cleave, 5th Place". I said congratulations to the winner, when we were on stage, he remembered me from last year. He didn't know why I didn't race and neither did the rest of the room.
I asked Mike the announcer if I could say a few words: "Thank you everyone out there for the support... Come back next year and even join...", something to that extent, I was a little nervous and don't really remember.
I got off stage and then Scott Frazier, smelling of alcohol and a hint of a good time, found me, tried to take my award out of my hands and said I did not earn it or pay to get in. I ran out when he said he was going to make this a big deal, while he took his phone out to probably call the police.
