JAKE HOESCHLER

At age 69, Jake has lived one extraordinary life. He is a sports legend and can be described as a "super athlete," unleashing his potential in five sports throughout the course of his life: football, skiing, sailing, tennis and cycling.

"I have been exceptionally blessed throughout my life and athletics came quite naturally to me," Jake Hoeschler says. "That ability wasn't necessarily deserved but I did work hard to maximize the most from those God given gifts."  

He was a three-time National Sailing Champion. Won two Sr. National Tennis Titles as well as the 1972 Colorado State Tennis Championships. He was ranked #1 in the Northwest 35+ Division in 1979.

Jake has also participated in golf for most of his life where he lettered for four years in high school. He competed in four state championships but says he finished last each time, with a chuckle. He loves playing at Bearpath and Hazeltine where he continues to lose his share of $2.00 Nassaus but has taken a few trophies home along the way as well, including one for the almost unheard of double eagle (2 on a par 5). He also added cycling to help with his ski training culminating in winning the Florida State Senior Men's Cycling Championships this past April.

Jake's Athletic Pursuits

Among the highlights in his life, Jake was a two-time American football standout from Wisconsin where he still holds the state's single season rushing record of 2,418 yards. Jake was considered the top high school player in the country in 1963 by Sports Illustrated. He was offered more than 200 full football scholarships at the top schools in the country. He finally chose the 4th ranked University of Colorado because they made the exception to allow him to ski race as well as play football.

Hoeschler wanted to see if he could make the Olympics. Since half of the Olympic Team made up the CU Ski Team, he knew that this was an invaluable learning opportunity. Anything he could learn from Olympic champions Billy Kidd, Spyder Sabich, etc., or Olympic Ski Coach Bob Beattie, he could use the rest of his life.

Jake joined the football team in 1963 with golfing legend Hale Irwin along with eventual five time all pro for the Miami Dolphins, Dick Anderson. "We had a great team," Hoeschler said, "and we eventually ended third in the nation behind Oklahoma and Nebraska. Lots of fun memories!  

Jake also made the CU ski team his freshman year and eventually the U.S. Ski Team. He became NCCA Downhill Champion in 1967 and was named to the All American Ski Team. He also made the U.S. World Cup Team, won the National Ski Championships in 1968 and was named to the 1968 Olympic Team. He was ranked 16th in the world in Downhill in 1969.

There is a plaque in front of the football stadium at the University of Colorado that lists all the letters Hoeschler won in tennis, skiing, and football which numbers ten - the most of any athlete on record. Hoeschler laughs because he was often introduced as a "Near Great" as a gag and it stuck. He says, "I was always close but no cigar." Now the plaque reads, "Jake Hoeschler - Near Great!" and lists the letters from 63-68. "Everyone gets a big kick out of it," he chuckles.

Jake's Near Death I Out of Body Experience

Everything was sailing along just fine until the end of 1969 and then life took a sudden turn changing Jake's life forever.

"On January 21, 1970 at approximately 1:50 in the afternoon, I entered the start­ing gate at the World Cup D.H. Ski Championships at Megeve, France. This was one of the fastest and most dangerous downhills in the world," Jake comments.

Jake left the starting gate as snow was beginning to fall. He entered the mid­section of the course at close to 95 mph, but quickly began to slow down as he entered the dangerous fall-away "S" turn. He took the turn at about 70 mph, but hit an outside rut which yanked him off the course through a retaining wall and off a cliff.

He hurtled through the air and managed to get his skis and arms in front of him to try to cushion the blow. It was futile.  

Jake says, "I came crashing into a tree, which broke my arm, both legs and split my helmet in half. As I lay hanging up in the tree, I couldn't believe I was still alive. I could hear my rescuers scampering down the cliff but I couldn't talk or move. They said I was dead, but I think I looked worse than I was because of the split hel­met and facial cuts."

Then Jake experienced the most powerful, unbelievable moment of his life - one that he has treasured since that fateful day in France. Things started to get blurry and white. Then things got whiter and whiter. Jake said, "Lord, I don't know if you are ready for me. I know I'm not ready for you, but here I come."

"The next thing I remember was slowly tumbling and somersaulting down a long chute, kind of like an astronaut in space, but untethered. It was not scary, but I had no control. Eventually, I came to the light at the end of the tunnel and popped out. What I think I did was pop out of my earth suit, because I found myself standing up the hill above my body observing all the commotion in three dimensions. I could see all around me at once."

Jake watched as the rescue helicopter came in and the French patrol held back the crowds. He stood next to two of his teammates about 100 yards and one got sick he recounted. The ski patrol put him in one of the outside baskets and put the body of his friend, Michel Bozon in the other basket. Michel had started down the ski slope 60 seconds behind Jake, lost control in the same spot, but crashed headfirst into the trunk of a tree, breaking his neck, back and almost severing his leg.

"While observing all of this, I was attracted to an incredibly white light. It had a brilliant glow that is literally indescribable. Being a tough competitor all my life, I would have thought I would have fought like mad to stay alive, but at that moment I couldn't have been happier or more content going toward the light. It was fantastic! It was pure love," Jake says. Unfortunately, this experience did not last. There was a voice that told Jake that he must go back, that it wasn't his time yet.

Jake says, "The more I kept trying to go to the light, the more I was told that it wasn't my time and that I had to go back to my clumsy, binding earthsuit." 

Three hours later. Jake started to regain consciousness in a Megeve hospital. His coach said, "Jake, we're glad you're alive. We didn't think you'd make it."

Jake told them that it was close and was able to vividly recount to them everything that had happened to him, including the death of his friend Michel.

"They were very shocked by what I said since I was unconscious throughout the entire ordeal," Jake says. It was that day he realized that there was a hereafter and a Supreme Being. From that moment on, Jake began searching for answers. He says, "I'm not afraid of death. I've already got a look at it ... and it's beautiful." Now that he knows what is on the other side, he has an experience that is truly out of this world.

"I hope to live a long and healthy life; I want quality- not quantity. But when it is time to go, I'll be ready to pass through that door especially now that I know how indescribably fantastic it will be on the other side."

Jake Today

Although this out of body experience happened 43 years ago, this experience forever changed Jake's life. While recuperating from his crash he went back and completed his law degree from Denver University. He often thinks about how many people are not given a second chance and how fortunate he was to be allowed the opportunity of such a full life.

His lifelong aspiration is for people to say, "My life was better because I knew Jake. He made me laugh and feel good about myself" Most people want to leave this world a better place than when they found it.

Jake continues, "I'd like to be remembered as a person who sees the bright and humorous side of life, who likes to laugh a lot - especially at himself. I like to help others laugh about themselves as well. We need to lighten up and see the sunny side of life. Life is tough enough. There are incredible miracles happening around us every day. We just don't take time to acknowledge them. Laugh a lot and give thanks a lot. It will do wonders for your stress level and soul. Remember, this isn't a dress rehearsal. Many of us are in the second half. Let's just hope it's not the 4th quarter or overtime!"

Jake is an owner of Horizon Agency, a full-service insurance agency which also insures much of the ski industry. He and his wife Maureen have lived in Bearpath since 2000.

Of Maureen, Jake says, "She is my soulmate. I couldn't have picked a better person to share my life with. I'm so grateful for her unconditional love and support through the years - especially through all my injuries. Maureen is just an amazing person. Not only is she beautiful on the outside ... she has a beautiful soul and heart on the inside. I am tremendously blessed." He laughs, "I definitely married up."

Jake and Maureen have been married for 39 years and have one daughter Victoria (Tori) who is in her final year at Carlson College at the U of M obtaining her MBA.

Someday we will tell you about the grizzly bear he shot with a bow and arrow and of those who lost their lives on that hunt. It made the front page in The Minneapolis Star (Oct. 30, 1970) but that's another adventure.