TARA DAKIDES | JAKE ZAMANSKY FIRE RELIEF

This past Tuesday, December 10th, our dear friends’ home caught fire and very quickly burnt to the ground. Thank God no one was injured and the family is safe. From what the neighbors said, it was all very traumatic as neighbors went running to help but quickly realized that the situation was explosive and there was no time to save anything, it all happened so fast.

For those of you who do not know Jake and Tara, Jake grew up in the Roaring Fork Valley, in Aspen, CO. He spent a decade with the U.S. Ski Team and was an Olympic ski racer, competing in the Vancouver Olympics Giant Slalom event in 2010. Since retiring from racing, Jake has continued to be a part of the ski industry by coaching young athletes and also works at a family-run business, Novus Auto Glass.

Jake’s wife, Tara, is one of the most iconic female snowboarders of all-time. She was named the G.O.A.T. by Snowboarder Magazine, pioneered video parts in male-dominated films, has an inspiring documentary called “Against the Grain” and is one of the most decorated X Games athletes in the history of X Games. We know Tara not only as a woman who changed the face of women’s snowboarding, but also as an amazing and dedicated mom to Meadow & Bowie.

In 2017, Jake and Tara purchased their dream property and started building a modest-sized barn that would double as a home, until they could one day build another home on their property. They’ve dreamt of using the property for sustainable living, an animal rescue sanctuary, a place for Meadow, 6, to follow her dreams of owning her own horse and pursuing a horsemanship career; while Bowie, who is all boy, and already rips on a dirt bike at 4 years old was able to ride this summer on the mini MX track they carved in on their property.

Tara was very hands-on during the building process and spent nearly every day visiting the property with the kids, as they were all excited to finally see their dreams coming to life. All of this took a turn for the worse when they started to notice problems upon inspection, including many construction defects that left them with an uninhabitable home. The construction came to a halt and they are currently in the middle of a costly lawsuit with a large amount of reported construction defects.

Their story is an unbelievable one of strength and perseverance. In an attempt to save the building and not lose their property, Jake and Tara sold their original home and moved into Jakes parent’s house in order to afford the costs of damages and attorney’s fees. The family sold most of their belongings including all of their furniture, mattresses, clothing, gear, etc. and purchased an RV to live in, on the property, as a temporary living situation after living at Jake's parents’ home for over a year. They moved into the RV on Thanksgiving Day and although the space was small, it was a dream for them to finally be on their own property!

However, during the middle of the day on December 10th, 2019, after running errands, Tara received a phone call that there was a fire on their property. She and the kids immediately drove home, seeing the smoke billowing over the hillside on her drive. They arrived to their RV in flames, still exploding and eventually burning to the ground, along with everything they owned in it. This included family heirlooms, memorabilia, their computers, and all of their personal belongings – the kids’ toys, books, favorite stuffed animals, all of their clothing, shoes, pillows, bedding, towels etc. To some this might look like “just an RV,” but to Tara, Jake, Meadow & Bowie it was their home.

If you drive by the property you will see the Christmas tree in the yard with a brightly lit JOY sign that the family will continue to keep lit. The family is beyond grateful for the love and support and they are working at staying positive during this time, knowing it could have been so much worse had they been there during the explosive fire. Those closest to the family know that this is absolutely devastating to them.

All money right now is tied up in their unbuilt house and the lawsuit of the defective construction. Tara and Jake are the most generous people, raising money for others in need, giving to various causes, and have worked on charity efforts to provide meals for children in Third World countries. Sweet Meadow currently sponsors a 3 year old boy named Goodwill in Uganda through the Compassion project. Now this family needs our help.

If you would like to help in any way, we are asking for financial contributions that will help Jake, Tara, and the kids rebuild their lives and move forward. At this point there is no carrier support for the accident but we are hopeful that will change. Physical donations are not being accepted at this time, as the family currently does not have a place to store anything other than just the bare minimum of what they need.