Ridecamp: Re: [RC] laura toston and her riders

In a message dated 6/19/2002 10:25:02 PM Pacific Standard Time, guest@xxxxxxxxxxxxx writes:


> Laura Toston does not teach her riders to "win". The ride is a personal challenge for her and the juniors. It just so happens, however, that the speed that they ride at, awards them 1st place. Places were awarded, therefore the ride was obviously some kind of a competition.


Since I'm already going down in flames....here goes.  We're talking about an adult rider here who races the LD with juniors in tow. The LD is NOT supposed to be a race!  So, who cares where you finish in it????  Last year (2001) at the Malibu ride I witnessed her behavior.  She very unsafely passed several 50 mile horses on a fairly narrow trail, she even kicked several off the horses to get them out of her way (naturally SHE was on the highside of the trail).  She also ran a mountain biker off the trail.  Many people signed witness statements for the protest that ensued.  Let me ask you....first year? maybe she just had a bad day.  But, this year???  Hard to believe.

Also, I believe the protest was upheld against her last year (yayy AERC).  She has to do a certain amount of volunteer work to clear herself.  Personally, I don't think letting her ride was a good decision, but I don't know all the facts that went into that decision.  Based on what I saw personally, she is a dangerous rider and should not be sponsoring juniors.  Bottom line.  Maybe she's reformed since last year. (doesn't sound like that, but I'm trying not to be so dang inflammatory)

Sylvia