Jackson Ski Touring has been sending out emails announcing that they will burn Olympian Charlie Kellogg's skis in a bonfire to appease the snow gods and bring on a great ski season. This is a small example of the kind of thinking that led the Taliban to destroy historic Buddha figures carved into cliffs in their country. In either case, performing an act of destruction is supposed to cause powerful imaginary beings to shower the faithful with approval.
Mr. Kellogg's skis are hardly in a class with ancient, monumental sculptures, but they're still irreplaceable historical artifacts that have been taken hostage by superstitious vandals.
You want to put on a good show for the snow gods? Have Thom and the entire board of Jackson Ski Touring run naked around the base lodge and the village on the weekend of the annual ski sale. Make the assembled membership watch. THAT'S a sacrifice.
You want to burn something? Burn everybody's clothes while they're running around.
