Ed Chase - Ski tuner to the Mahres

Ed Chase died August 17 in Branford, Conn., after a five-year-long fight with cancer. He was 64.

Ed grew up skiing in Sheffield, Mass., where he attended the Berkshire School. He then went on to Middlebury College in Vermont where he was a member of the class of ’73, played soccer and rugby, and served on the Snow Bowl ski patrol. There, he acquired the nickname Sleez.

After college, Ed joined Olin Skis, beginning a nearly 40-year career in the winter sports industry. He moved to K2 a couple of years later, where he would work for nearly two decades. Beginning in 1976, he served as ski technician to Phil and Steve Mahre, preparing their slalom and GS skis until their retirement in 1984. He was with the twins for all of their Olympic and World Championship medals and every one of their 36 World Cup wins (27 for Phil, nine for Steve).

After the Mahres retired, Ed stayed with K2 as promotions coordinator, ski tester and then sales rep. More than a ski tuner, Ed became a mentor and friend to several generations of K2 employees. Ed would go on to work as a rep for several other companies, including Volant, Swix, Tecnica/Blizzard and finally Salomon.

Ed is survived by his sister Ann Chase Redman of Branford, Conn.; his son, Peter Robson Chase, of Phoenix, Ariz.; his ex-wife, Lisa Chase, of Gunnison, Colo.; a nephew and two nieces.  --Tim Etchells