Former NCAA champion and Paralympic coach dies

By Published On: October 2nd, 2014Comments Off on Former NCAA champion and Paralympic coach dies
Sean Ramsden in competition and his USOC headshot from the 2014 Sochi Paralympics. CUBuffs

Sean Ramsden in competition along with his USOC photo from the 2014 Sochi Games. CUBuffs

BOULDER – Former University of Colorado ski team member and national champion Sean Ramsden passed away unexpectedly of natural causes Saturday. He was 43.

Nicknamed “Rammer,” he was described as a compassionate, kind-hearted and fun-loving spirit that made him an excellent friend, teammate and teacher both on and off the slopes. Ramsden graduated from the University of Colorado in 1995 with a degree in history and pursued that interest as he explored culture, sights and sounds while traveling the world.

“Sean was a guy with lot of friends,” CU head coach Richard Rokos said. “He was liked in any place, by everybody. He was a great friend, athlete and individual. He will be missed by all of us. We all loved him.”

While at CU, he lettered three times as an alpine skier from his sophomore through senior seasons in 1993-95.  He also competed at Wyoming as a freshman in 1992 before the program disbanded.  He made an immediate impact for the Buffaloes, winning the individual NCAA Championship in giant slalom in 1993.  He was a two-time individual RMISA Champion, as well, winning the giant slalom for the Buffaloes in 1993 and the slalom title for the Cowboys in 1992.

Somewhat hampered by injuries as an upperclassmen, overall he participated in 30 races, finishing 18 with nine top-10 results, three podiums and two race victories for the Buffs and was a member of the 1995 National Championship squad as a senior.  Counting his time at Wyoming, he competed in 42 races, finishing 27 with 14 top-10 results, four podiums and three race victories.

He was a two-time first-team All-American, earning one citation for both Colorado and Wyoming, where he finished fourth in the slalom at the 1992 NCAA Championships to earn the distinction along with his individual GS title for the Buffs in 1993.

He was the Executive Director and Alpine Director for Team Summit from 2002-10 where he tutored several CU skiers including Katie Hartman, Fletcher McDonald and Taggart Spenst.

Most recently, he worked as a coach with the United States Paralympic racing team including traveling with that squad to the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games.

He was born on February 25, 1971, in Madison, Wis., but called the Colorado Mountains home.

He was proceeded in death by his father, Alan Ramsden, and is survived by his mother, Sharon Jackel, step-father Ron Smith, sisters Kris (Charles) Teasdale and Audra (Nelson) Ferriera and four nieces. His many visits back to the Midwest focused on spending time with his nieces and watching them grow.

A memorial service will take place Saturday, Oct. 4, in Madison, Wis., at the Asbury United Methodist Church (6601 University Avenue; Madison, WI 53705) at 1 p.m.  In lieu of flowers, the family is asking for donations to be made in his name to the U.S. Paralympic Team here.

A memorial service in Colorado will be planned at a later date.

Release courtesy of CU Athletics 

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