Max Marolt, Aspen ski legend
Hyfler/Rosner
DATELINE: ASPEN, Colo.
Max Marolt, an Olympic skier who was later active in Aspen politics, died of
a heart attack while skiing in Argentina, his family said. He was 67.
Marolt was making his final run of the day at Las Lenas ski resort when the
heart attack struck.
"In general, his love of the sport of skiing" will always be remembered,
said his son, Mike. "He told me about a year ago that he loved skiing more
now than he had in his whole life."
Max Marolt was born in 1936 in Aspen. The Marolts were familiar faces in the
skiing community - Max and his two brothers, Bud and Bill, were there the
day the Aspen Mountain ski lift opened to the public.
A member of the University of Denver ski team, Marolt used his breakneck
speed to earn a place on the U.S. Ski Team in 1954. Four years later, a
daring run in the FIS Championships led to an invitation to the 1960 Olympic
Games in Squaw Valley, Calif.
The 24-year-old Marolt didn't fare as well as he had hoped, placing 15th
overall in the downhill and giant slalom. But he paved the way for dozens of
locals with dreams of gold medals.
Marolt's younger brother, Bill, became the second Aspen resident to compete
with a trip to the 1964 Winter Olympics.
Though Marolt enjoyed skiing daunting peaks around the world, Aspen remained
his home. He became a sales representative for several ski equipment
manufacturers.
Marolt served briefly as a Pitkin County commissioner and later on the Aspen
City Council.
He and his wife, Betty, raised their four children - daughter Marlis, and
sons Roger, Steve and Mike - here, and helped foster their ski careers. The
twins, Steve and Mike, also became adventurous skiers and recently returned
from a summit attempt on Mount Everest.
Heinz W. Wiggeshoff
"Hyfler/Rosner" <rel...@rcn.com> wrote in message
news:bg4jhm$s0e$1...@bob.news.rcn.net...
> Aspen ski legend Max Marolt dies in Argentina
>
> DATELINE: ASPEN, Colo.
>
> Max Marolt, an Olympic skier who was later active in Aspen politics,
died of
> a heart attack while skiing in Argentina, his family said. He was
67.
>
> Marolt was making his final run of the day at Las Lenas ski resort
when the
> heart attack struck.
Ya, a heart attack usually makes it the final run (for at least a
day B-).