Jeremy Nobis was a skiing legend who competed in the 1994 Winter Olympics and revolutionized big-mountain freeriding with his fearless and fast style. He was also known for his wild lifestyle, which led to several arrests and convictions for driving under the influence. On April 19, 2023, he was found dead in his jail cell in Cedar City, Utah, where he was awaiting sentencing for his latest DUI charge. What was the cause of his death and what led to his downfall? Here is what we know so far.
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Early Life and Career
Jeremy Nobis was born on July 31, 1970, in Madison, Wisconsin. He had a younger sister, Shannon Nobis, who also became a professional skier. He moved to Park City, Utah, in his youth and attended Green Mountain Valley Ski Academy in Vermont for his junior and senior years. He joined the United States Ski Team at 16 years old and won two world junior championships in giant slalom and super giant slalom in 1988 and 1989. He made his debut on the FIS Alpine Ski World Cup in January 1991 and achieved two top-10 finishes in giant slalom. He represented the United States in Alpine skiing at the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, Norway, where he finished ninth in the giant slalom event. He retired from the World Cup circuit in 1996.
Freeriding Fame and Films
After leaving the racing scene, Nobis turned to big-mountain freeriding, a form of skiing that involves descending steep and often untracked slopes with natural features and obstacles. He became one of the best and most influential freeskiers of all time, earning the nicknames “The Icon” and “Psycho Nobi” for his aggressive and daring style. He appeared in numerous ski films produced by Warren Miller Entertainment, Matchstick Productions, Teton Gravity Research, and The North Face Films. He traveled the world and skied some of the most challenging terrain in Alaska, Greenland, Chamonix, and the Alps. He had his own signature ski model from Dynastar and helped design new equipment for freeskiing.
One of his most legendary runs was on Pyramid Peak in Alaska, where he skied a 52-degree slope with a 2,000 vertical foot drop in eight super-G turns. This run was featured on the cover of Powder Magazine and was dubbed “the turn that changed the world” by Teton Gravity Research co-founder Todd Jones. Another memorable run was on Mr. Ripple and Cathedral in Greenland, where he had to traverse a crevasse called the Catcher’s Mitt.
Legal Troubles and Death
Despite his success and fame as a freeskier, Nobis also struggled with alcohol addiction and legal problems. He was arrested at least four times for driving under the influence between 2006 and 2023, in Utah, Colorado, and Idaho. In one incident, he led police on a high-speed chase that reached speeds of over 100 miles per hour. In another incident, he crashed his car into a fence and fled the scene on foot.
His last arrest was in February 2023, when he was pulled over for speeding and swerving in Iron County, Utah. He had a warrant for his arrest from a previous DUI case in 2019, when he failed to appear at a videoconference court hearing in 2021. He was incarcerated at the Iron County Correctional Facility and faced up to five years in prison.
On April 19, 2023, he was found unresponsive in his jail cell by staff members who attempted life-saving measures. He was pronounced dead at the jail. The cause of his death has not been officially determined yet, but authorities said there were no signs of foul play or suicide. An autopsy will be conducted to determine the exact cause of death.
Legacy and Tributes
Jeremy Nobis will be remembered as one of the greatest skiers of all time, who pushed the boundaries of the sport and inspired generations of freeskiers with his passion and skill. He will also be remembered as a troubled soul who battled with addiction and faced the consequences of his actions.
Many people from the skiing community have expressed their condolences and tributes to Nobis on social media. Some of his former teammates, friends, rivals, filmmakers, sponsors, fans, and family members have shared their memories and stories of him.
One of them was Doug Lewis, a two-time Olympic downhill skier who coached Nobis at Green Mountain Valley Ski Academy. He wrote on Facebook: “Jeremy Nobis was one of my first athletes I coached at GMVS back in ’88-’89…He was an amazing talent who could do anything on skis…He had an infectious smile that lit up any room…He had demons that haunted him…He made mistakes that cost him…He was a friend that I will miss…Rest in peace, Nobi.”
Another one was Chris Davenport, a two-time world champion freeskier who skied with Nobis in several films. He wrote on Instagram: “I’m so sad to hear of the passing of my friend and ski hero Jeremy Nobis. He was one of the most talented and fearless skiers I’ve ever known, and he had a huge impact on my career and the sport of freeskiing. He was also a kind and generous person who always had a smile on his face. I have so many great memories of skiing and traveling with him over the years, and I will always cherish them. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends. RIP Nobi, you will be missed.”
