Spider Sabich - Icarus of Aspen

For those fortunate enough to know Spider, it was more  important to remember how he lived rather than how he died. An gifted and athletic golden child of California, raised by loving parents in an idyllic setting of the California mountains. 

He was loved by everyone who came within his sphere and is it possible that even the Gods were jealous of this Icarus who flew too close the sun as he skied on the mountain slopes? Nope, he just loved the wrong woman.

He was shot to death in his Aspen home by his lover, the French singer, Claudine Longet, ex-wife of singer, Andy Williams. The salacious details of his death - cocaine, betrayal and the Aspen party life - and the subsequent O.J. Simpson-like trial overshadowed the lifetime of achievements of Sabich which were many. An Olympian, 1968 U.S. Downhill Champion and two time World Champion.  

Born to Croatian immigrants with a dad who had been both a WW ll pilot and a Russian POW, the handsome Vladimir "Spider" Sabich had a charismatic, easy going personality that belied his hard work. His skiing prowess as a junior from the Lake Tahoe area earned him a name early on and he often skied up in age groups at competitions. 

In 1962, he was recruited to the University of Colorado by Bob Beattie who was building a skiing dynasty at the school. An aerospace engineering major, Spider and Billy Kidd were both on the school's ski team. 

Kidd recalled how they'd sign up for a few classes, go to a few then fly to Europe to ski on the circuit around Thanksgiving and return to the US in February. Life was good.

Sabich turned professional after the 1970 season, following his friend Billy Kidd, who joined the pro tour in mid-season 1970. As a pro he joined Bob Beattie's Benson and Hedges sponsored World Pro Ski Tour and was the pro ski racing champion in 1971 & 1972. 

Pro ski racing was conducted in a dual slalom format, with racers going head-to-head in elimination heats. The Pro Tour was known as a true test of endurance, The racers would ski against five opponents in one day and a total of 10 runs.

Spider loved Colorado and essentially, he never returned to California. After turning pro, he traveled on the ski circuit, one where celebrities and skiers frequently collided, turning Aspen into a Studio 54 West. Athletes were treated as demi-gods, entitled to anything that came their way. 

In the 70's, both tennis and ski circuits were followed by celebrities; some were groupies and some were true affectionados of the sports. Aspen was already a party scene with free flowing drugs and the general craziness that follows the beautiful people. 

Moose Barrows, a fellow skier from the University of Colorado, remembers when they walked into a lounge in Bear Valley, California, only to find Claudine Longet sitting with Liza Minnelli, Robert Conrad and Clint Eastwood. Spider introduced himself and began a romance where within four years, he would be dead by Longet's hand. 

With her show-biz persona all tres gamine, doe-eyed, damsel-in-distress innocence, Claudine was born in Paris in 1942 and became a later day, watered-down derivative  of Francoise Hardy, the girl singer. Barrows and others remembered thinking of Longet as "crazy", spoiled with a wicked temper, or he as put it, "French". 

A marginal actress, she met Andy Williams while she was the lead dancer of the Follies Bergere at the Tropicana in Las Vegas in 1960. They married shortly thereafter. Andy and Claudine became part of the Bobby and Ethel Kennedy crowd - tennis playing, skiing, vacationing and partying together in Bel Air, Palm Springs and New York City. 

Despite Andy's show biz connections, her acting career never saw her win stellar roles much beyond TV shows such as Combat!, Rat Patrol, McHale's Navy and Hogan's Heros. Her small parts were usually revolved around the same plot - the french girl who was part of the Resistance who helped the Americans. Her career peaked with a part in Blake Edwards' 'The Party' alongside Peter Sellars. 

Her singing career consisted mainly of covers for Herb Albert's AandM records though she eventually signed with Williams' label.

Longet and Williams separated in 1970. Two years later, Longet and Sabich met at a pro-celebrity event in Bear Valley, California and she soon moved into his Aspen home with her three children by Andy Williams. 

Spider seemed to be more in love with life than with Longet. He was a pilot, a traveler and far from ready to settle down. Spider was in love with life and she couldn't compete. She had talked about building a house near his own, but it was already bad enough that he couldn't seem to shake her off. Endless arguments drove him away. 

Longet's temperamental jealous personality and drug use spelled the end of their romance and by the spring of 1976, it was firmly on the skids. Sabich had come back to his Aspen home to shower and change after a training session with former coach Bob Beattie. He had plans to meet with up Beattie for dinner, but never showed.

While Spider had spend the entire day skiing, Longet had spent a long day in a local bar with friends. According to Longet, Spider agreed to show her the handgun that Spider had been given to by him by his brother, Steve, who had been given the gun by their father. 

A replicate Luger purchased eight years prior in Grenoble, it was agreed that the handgun possessed a hair trigger. The gun was kept unloaded on closet shelf, under a pile of ski sweaters. Longet said that Spider agreed to show her how the gun worked so she followed him into the bathroom for the impromptu lesson. 

A lesson that left Spider with a gaping gun shot wound to his stomach. Ballistic reports showed him bent over and six feet away from the gun. Strange positioning to be giving a lesson. He died at the age of 31.

The trial became of circus of OJ Simpson trial proportions. Andy Williams walked his wife to and from the courthouse everyday, sitting in on every session and no doubt, paying for her high profile attorney to whom she eventually become married when he left his wife and kids for her. 

Procedural investigative errors by Aspen's police department led to key evidence being omitted from the trial. Without a warrant, they gathered Longet's diary which spelled out the demise of their relationship along with lab blood work showing cocaine coupled with alcohol in her system at the time of the shooting. 

She was found guilty of a misdemeanor charge and spent 30 days in they county lock-up. The Sabich family filed a civil suit against Longet, the terms never disclosed. Additionally, she was never to write or profit from the story. 

Pop culture commentary was provided via Jagger and Richards for the Rolling Stones 'Emotional Rescue' album in 1980.

(Jagger/Richards)

Claudine's back in jail again
Claudine's back in jail (again)
Claudine's back in jail again
Claudine

Claudine's back in jail again
Claudine's back in jail (again)
She only does it at weekends
Claudine
Oh, Claudine

Now only Spider knows for sure
But he ain't talkin' about it any more
Is he, Claudine?

There's blood in the chalet
And blood in the snow
(She)Washed her hands of the whole damn show
The best thing you could do, Claudine

Shot him once right through the head
Shot him twice right through the chest
The judge says (ruled) it was an accident
Claudine
Accidents will happen
(In the best homes)

And Claudine's back in jail again
Claudine's back in jail again
Claudine's back in jail again
Claudine

(Claudine's back in jail again
Claudine's back in jail again
Claudine's back in jail again
Claudine) [additional chorus]

I'll tell you something
Now Claudine's back in jail again
Claudine's back in jail again
Claudine's back in jail again
Claudine

Tell you one more
Claudine's back in jail again
Claudine's back in jail again
Claudine's back in jail again
Huh Claudine?

Oh Claudine...

Oooo ...
What about the children, baby?
Poor, poor children

Now I threaten my wife with a gun
I always leave the safety on
I recommend it
Claudine

Now she pistol whipped me once or twice
But she never tried to take my life
(What do you think about that)
Claudine

The prettiest girl I ever seen
I saw you on the movie screen
Hope you don't try to make a sacrifice of me
Claudine
(Don't get trigger happy with me)
Don't wave a gun at me
(Claudine)

I said Claudine's back in jail again
Claudine's back in jail again
Claudine's back in jail again
Claudine

I said Claudine's back in jail again
Claudine's back in jail again
She only does it at weekends
Claudine

Keith, will you put that weapon down?

Oh Claudine

Oh Claudine