*New* Jimmie Heuga Painting on Display
The Colorado Snowsports Museum is pleased to present a new work of art on display. This original artwork celebrates the achievements of Olympic bronze medalist Jimmie Heuga, with the source photograph captured in Grenoble, France in 1968. Jimmie was inducted into our Hall of Fame in 1987.
October 18, 2023 — VAIL, CO - Lovingly preserved in a box and recently recovered from the attic of the Heuga family’s cabin in Tahoe, this signed photograph (shown below), once served as a key component in Jimmie’s promotional events. The Heuga family chose this particular image from a selection presented to the artist because it encapsulates Jimmie as a youthful skiing sensation, reveling in the multifaceted experience of both an Olympic medalist and a champion athlete.
This signed photograph once served as a key component in Jimmie’s promotional events - and was the inspiration for the work.
Jimmie, a native of California, competed internationally on the US Ski Team for ten years and was a member of two championship teams in 1962 and 1966. Jimmie is the only American male to win the Arlberg Kandahar in Garmish, Germany; he was an Olympic bronze medalist in the 1964 slalom in Innsbruck, Austria; and was third in the 1967 World Cup giant slalom.
In 1967 Jimmie was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and retired from competition shortly after the 1968 Olympics in Grenoble, France. In 1983 Jimmie moved to Vail and founded the Jimmie Heuga Center for physical conditioning and consulting services to people with disabilities and personal challenges.
The goal of the Jimmie Heuga Center, now known as the Can Do Center, is to improve the quality of life of those disabled by disease and traumas, through personalized programs.
The creation of this commissioned portrait was graciously donated to The Jimmie Heuga Legacy Foundation for MS by Joanne Posner-Mayer, a dedicated friend and unwavering supporter of Jimmie Heuga. Joanne, a seasoned physical therapist, crossed paths with Jimmie through her involvement in The Jimmie Heuga Center for MS program, with the mission to provide individuals grappling with multiple sclerosis with wellness programs grounded in physical fitness. Jimme himself pioneered the integration of exercise and nutrition to effectively manage his own MS symptoms and lead to a higher quality of life living with the chronic disease. Jimmie’s resolute philosophy is best captured in his inspiring mantra: “can do”.
The artist behind this remarkable work is none other than Allison Lefcort, affectionately known as “the Princess of Pop” and widely acknowledged in the art world as the rightful heir to the Pop Art throne. In a rare achievement, Allison’s influence in the realm of Pop Art has been likened to that of Andy Warhol. Joanne’s connection with Allison was forged during an art exhibition and it was this encounter that spurred Joanne’s decision to immortalize Jimmie Heuga through this portrait, preserving his enduring legacy.
Jimmie now joins the illustrious ranks of individuals who have been captured by Allison’s artistic prowess, a list which includes luminaries such as David Bowie, Barbara Streisand, Hillary Clinton, and Hugh Hefner, among others. Notably, Jimmie stands as the first athlete to be memorialized by Lefcort.
The portrait is on loan to the Colorado Snowsports Museum and Hall of Fame in Vail, Colorado, as part of its exhibit about Jimmie Heuga- in our Hall of Fame display. It was ‘un-Vailed’ during a September 20th event celebrating Jimmie’s 80th birthday with a screening of the documentary film Can Do: The Legacy of Jimmie Heuga by filmmaker Mike Marolt.
Museum Hours:
Monday - Wednesday 10 am to 5 pm
Thursday - Sunday 10 am to 6 pm
Free Admission daily
Source: Richard Neustedter – Executive Director, Secretary with the Jimmie Heuga Legacy Foundation.
About the Colorado Snowsports Museum and Hall of Fame:
Founded in 1975 and located in Vail, Colorado, our mission is to celebrate Colorado snow sports by telling stories that educate and inspire others to seek adventure. The priceless artifacts we collect and display tell the story of the birth, rise and explosion of skiing and snowboarding in Colorado. The Museum features displays including Climb to Glory about the 10th Mountain Division, Vail’s DNA, The Colorado Snowboard Archive, and The Colorado Snowsports Hall of Fame, among many others. Learn more and consider supporting the Museum by becoming a member: www.snowsportsmuseum.org.
Media Contact:
Jen Mason | Dana Mathios
jen@snowsportsmuseum.org | dana@snowsportsmuseum.org
(970) 476-1876