St. Lawrence University Athletics

One of the outstanding downhill skiers in St. Lawrence history, Dave Jacobs' impact on the sport of skiing goes far beyond competition.

The Canadian National downhill champion in 1957 while an undergraduate, Dave won a number of downhill races on the collegiate circuit and was third in the Alpine Combined at the Canadian Kandahar. He missed his junior season due to injury, but skied on the 1959 team which was New York State champions and third in the Eastern Intercollegiate Ski Association.

A member of the Canadian National team from 1957 through 1961, he was named the first full-time head coach and program administrator for the Canadian National Ski Team in 1964 and served through 1966. He parlayed his love for sports into numerous successful business ventures and designed the first Lange competition ski boot. He also founded a corporation which produced children's ski clothing and adult bicycle clothing and accessories, patenting a revolutionary bicycle saddle design and went on to found the Spyder brand of ski race sweaters and racing pants in 1978.

He has been named to the Honor Roll of Canadian Skiing and is a past recipient of the John Semmelink Award, presented to skiers whose sportsmanship, conduct and ability best represent Canada in international competition. He has been inducted into the Laurentian Ski Hall of Fame in Quebec and the Colorado Ski Hall of Fame.