Colorado
Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame

Marnie Jump - 1918
 
Inducted into the Colorado Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame 2000
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Marnie Jump’s long association with skiing in Colorado dates back to 1947 when she headed west to become a “ski bum”.  She had learned to ski in Bennington College in Vermont before World War II.  (During the war she served as an officer in the United States Navy).

She ended up at Arapahoe Basin looking for work.  The struggling new area had managed to install one rope tow halfway up the mountain, but was $45,000 in debt and had only $117 in the bank.  Larry Jump, co-founder of the ski area, explained that unless they could acquire much needed dollars, the area could not open for the 1947-48 ski season. 

Marnie used her connections to help raise the needed money and instead of becoming a ski bum, became vice president of Arapahoe Basin Corporation.  She also married Larry Jump.  She remained an active board member until 1972 when Arapahoe Basin was sold.

During those many years she was involved in every facet of the area’s development and operation. 

The first Veterans Race sanctioned by the U.S. Ski Association was organized by Marnie Jump and held on the Pali in 1953.  This program evolved into the Masters Racing Series, which Marnie participated in until her late seventies. 

In 1959 Marnie organized the first Ski Ball for the benefit of the United States Ski Team and served as Chair of succeeding balls.  In 1968 she conducted the first ski handicap program in Colorado – an amputee program for the first and boys from Children’s Hospital and the Vietnam War Veterans from Fitzsimmons Hospital.  The program later moved to Winter Park.  Marnie received the Army’s “Certificate of Appreciation” for her work.  Another “first” was the popular Ski Bus, which Marnie initiated from Cherry Hills to A-Basin, setting a precedent for other ski areas to follow. 

Marnie Jump has been an integral part of building Colorado into the Ski Country that it is today.  Her 50 years of service and quiet efficiency will be long remembered by all those who celebrated the spirit of skiing.


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