(From 3 days ago), R.I.P. to some one who sounds like he was a
great Buff -
Article -
https://cubuffs.com/news/2024/7/3/cu-steamboat-skiing-icon-jim-moose-barrows-passes-away
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CU, Steamboat Skiing Icon Jim "Moose" Barrows Passes Away
Local & National Legend Was 80
By:
David Plati, SID-Emeritus/Athletic Historian
BOULDER —
Jim "Moose" Barrows, who skied for the University of Colorado and the U.S. Ski Team before becoming active with the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club (SSWSC), passed away peacefully in his sleep last Friday morning. He was 80.
Barrows started out as a ski jumper, eventually concentrating more on alpine racing, winning several times in the Rocky Mountain Division of U.S. Skiing during the 1961-62 season. He then enrolled at CU and skied for the Buffaloes in the mid-1960s, lettering three times and was the winner of five individual races.
It was at CU where his teammate
Spider Sabich nicknamed him "Moose," where he went on to become the nation's premier four event skier, participating at the time in college skiing where athletes could compete in both alpine and Nordic events (which eventually would become more specialized to each discipline). He had seven top five and 25 top 10 finishes in his Buff career.
In 1967 Barrows won one World Cup downhill, and placed seventh in the downhill World Cup for that season, finishing 24th in the overall World Cup. He made the U.S. Olympic Team and competed in the downhill at the 1968 Winter Olympics in Grenoble, France, but did not finish after a tremendous fall that would become legendary. See it here:
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The following year (1969), he rallied to win the North American downhill championship. Injuries hampered his career, however, so he returned to school to finish up at CU, earning his bachelor's degree in Business.
He skied for a few years on the pro circuit in the early 70's, and later became a ski coach and a promoter of ski events and resorts. After retiring from coaching, he devoted much of his time to promoting skiing, developing the concept of self-timing programs and has started a scholarship fund to provide junior skiers in the Yampa Valley with the means to train, amassing several hundred thousand dollars for his efforts. He created the "Moose is Loose" golf tournament that benefited the SSWSC, and also the Mickey Fund that raised money for toys for the sick and injured at Denver's Children's Hospital. He also taught the history of skiing at Colorado Mountain College and was inducted into the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Hall of Fame in 1996.
Bill Marolt, the former CU head ski coach and athletic director who also coached the U.S. Ski Team, was a teammate and lifelong friend of Barrows since they were pre-teenagers. They worked together at ski camps, annual races in Steamboat like the Cowboy Downhill and Barrows even served as Marolt's coach of the downhillers when he was with the U.S. Team. The two talked frequently up until his passing after a long bout with brain cancer.
"Moose Barrows was a bigger than life person, a terrific personality and one of those rare people who simply loved people and developing relationships who always had a smile on his face," Marolt said. "He was a terrific athlete at the local, college and international levels. Plus, he was a really good student. He went on to pro ski racing, and eventually became an entrepreneur in many areas. He loved fishing in mountain streams and lakes and was an awesome storyteller. At the end of the day, he was Steamboat Springs. He grew up there, returned there after his racing days, and passed away in the place he loved the most."
Colorado longtime head coach of the ski team,
Richard Rokos, praised Barrows.
"Moose was a legendary Buffalo, remaining close to the program to his last days," he said. "He was around the team for all 35 years of my tenure and was a tremendous supporter. The kids all loved him. He most recently came to the NCAA slalom this March (in Steamboat) wth his typical smile and jokes. He will be missed by all of us!"
Current ski coach
Jana Weinberger, who was a teammate of his niece
Jessica Gray on the CU Nordic team, echoed the same in saying, "Moose was a legend. I loved seeing him at our annual Ski Ball and at our Steamboat races. Always friendly and kind – a true Buff!"
James Barrows was born April 25, 1944 in Los Angeles before his family relocated to Steamboat when he was seven. He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Lawrence and his son Mickey, and is survived by his sister, Nancy Gray, brothers Bob and Joe Barrows, nieces Jessica (Aldighieri), Rebecca Gray and Annika Stec and nephew Rob Barrows … and the family would like to include, all those CU alumni that he held close to his heart and did the same toward him. A memorial service is in the final planning stages for the near future.
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