Born October 1, 1933, in Montreal, Canada, David Jacobs began skiing at age thirteen. His first race was at age eighteen. At twenty-one, he won the Quebec Kandahar, proving that he was on the fast track to becoming a nationally competitive skier. Obtaining his Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics from St. Lawrence University and spending one year studying mechanical engineering at MIT proved only to be distractions from his passion for skiing.
In 1957, he captured the title of Canadian Downhill Ski Racing Champion. From 1957 through 1961, Jacobs was a member of the Canadian FIS Team. Unfortunately, he was forced to withdraw before competing in the World Championships at Badgastein, Austria, when he fractured his leg during a downhill training run. As the first full-time head coach and program administrator for the Canadian National Ski Team from 1964-1966, Jacobs continued his contribution to the sport at the National level.
From 1966 to 1969, Jacobs was President of Lange-Jacobs Inc., the manufacturer of Lange plastic ski boots in Montreal. After that company merged with Lange USA in 1969, Jacobs moved to Boulder, sat on the board of directors, and was the company’s Vice President from 1969 to 1972. During this time, he designed the first Lange competition ski boot, which became the hallmark of World Cup ski boots.
In 1972, he founded The Jacobs Corporation, producing Hot Gear, a line of upmarket children’s ski clothing. In 1978, Jacobs founded the Spyder brand. It began as a small mail-order business from his kitchen and became a multinational ski apparel giant. Within two years, sales were in the six figures, and Jacobs’ kitchen was too crowded.
The company’s name was coined after one of Jacobs’ early creations: navy blue racing pants with yellow foam pads extending from the knee to the hip. “Everyone called them spider pants,” Jacobs recalled. “When I decided to produce my own race clothing, I thought of using spider, but why not spell it with a “y” like the Ferrari Spyder? Besides, I hate spiders. The most ominous and frightening thing to me is a black widow spider. So that had to be my logo. I figured if I hated them so much, people would look at the clothing and never forget it. I wanted something powerful and menacing, a lasting image.” (Ski Tech, Jan/Feb 1988).
As the desire for high-end skiwear and high-tech items spread to recreational skiers, Spyder’s sales flourished, and Spyder’s Boulder, Colorado headquarters kept at the forefront of technical apparel markets.
Spyder Active Sports was the exclusive official apparel partner of the U.S. Ski Team from 1989 to 2022.
Spyder is one of the world’s most recognizable and credible outdoor sportswear brands. David Jacob’s contribution to the sport of skiing and the ski industry continued to be the focus of his life. A true competitor, Jacobs achieved excellence on ski runs and in the business world. “This is not just a job for me; Spyder is an extension of my personality.” (Boulder County Business Report, Feb. 1988).
Watch David’s Hall of Fame tribute video:
About the Colorado Snowsports Museum and Hall of Fame:
Founded in 1975 and located in Vail, Colorado, the Colorado Snowsports Museum is celebrating its 50th anniversary. As the official snow sports museum of Colorado, our mission is to celebrate Colorado snow sports by telling stories that educate and inspire others to seek adventure. Through priceless artifacts and engaging exhibits, we preserve and display the birth, rise, and explosion of skiing and snowboarding in our state. Highlights include Climb to Glory (featuring the 10th Mountain Division), The Colorado Snowboard Archive, and The Colorado Snowsports Hall of Fame. Learn more and support the Museum by becoming a member: www.snowsportsmuseum.org.
