Featured Image: Richard Rokos Coaching NCAA Championships in New Hampshire, 2021. Credit: Stephen Cloutire

On Saturday night, the University of Colorado’s Ski Team celebrated their annual Ski Ball. This year’s fundraiser for the NCAA Ski Team honored many with praise and recognized the retired coach, Richard Rokos as this year’s Mountain of Honor recipient.

Richard Rokos was a very successful head ski coach for the Buffaloes. He coached over 31 seasons and led the team to eight NCAA championship titles and 42 individual NCAA championships, the second-most in the school’s history. Also, during his time coaching, the team finished in the top two of races 75% of the time, with just four finishes outside of the top four. In addition to having an outstanding record on the snow, Rokos coached 225 All-American athletes. 

Ian Lochhead, the new head coach for the CU Ski Team, stated, “His accomplishments are amazing by themselves, but the impact he has had on this program and the athletes he coached are what truly makes him a legend.” 

Richard Rokos created the Mountain of Honor when he first started coaching at CU. He wanted to celebrate and recognize skiers and friends of the ski team who have shown dedication and who have been big contributors to the program. Since the award was created the recipient was decided on by a committee of supporters, staff, alums and CU Athletics Administrators. This committee elects the recipient of the award through an immense amount of discussion, and then the award is displayed on the east side of the Folsom Stadium. The esteem that the committee still has for Rokos showed as he received the award that he once created to honor others devoted to the CU Buffaloes. 

As Rokos stood up to claim the much-earned award he stated, “I am very honored to get this honor that I actually established 30 years ago… I am forever thankful for this opportunity and the 33 years or so. I enjoyed every single minute of it and I think the people who are here tonight is something I enjoyed most.”

Throughout the room, the message was clear that Rokos brought teams he coached together. He shaped so much of what CU skiing is and has left a footprint on a lot of what the program does. 

Lochhead explained, “Richie has been super welcoming to me and has been really helpful as I get going here. I have always admired his passion and enthusiasm. Obviously, it would be hard to try to imitate a true original, but I am happy to keep learning from him, and I want to try to keep the team moving in a way that makes him proud.” 

Past Mountain of Honor Recipients

The previous Mountain of Honor recipients are a remarkable list of accomplished athletes, dedicated groups that have elevated the CU program, and true legends within the sport.

Prior inductees Include: 

• Class of 2022: Jodie Mossoni, Brad Ghent, Mark Ford, Barbara Ferries Henderson
• 1972-1979 CU Ski Teams: 8 Consecutive NCAA Titles
• 500 CU Ski Team All-Americans
• Eldora: A Proud Partner of CU Skiing
• Ron LeMaster: Buff Skier, Coach, Instructor, Photographer
• John Dendahl: Athlete, 1960 Skimeister Champion, US Champion
• Lee Sevison 1979-82 and Dale Pearson- 1976-79: CU Ski Team, Outstanding Athletes
• Maria Moe Grevsgård 2005-09, ‘06 NCAA Champion, 2 x Individual NCAA Champion, 8 x All American
• Lucie Zikova 2005-2008, ’06 NCAA Champion, 3 x Individual NCAA Champion
• John Skajam 1986 SL & 1986-87 SL GS NCAA Champion
• Jimmy Heuga NCAA Champion 1963, Olympic Medalist 1964
• Inaugural Year 1977 University of Colorado Women’s Ski Team
• Bryan Benjamin Sax 1995 NCAA Champion
• Bill Marolt Racer 1962-1966, Coach 1969-1978, A.D. 1984-1996
• Leaders, Legends, Champions: Beattie, Marolt, Hinderman, Rokos
• Coach Bob Beattie: 1957-1956 Inaugural Inductee

What the Ski Ball Means to the CU Ski Team

The University of Colorado Ski Ball is the ski team’s biggest fundraiser and essential to the program’s success. It is an amazing night that brings alumni, supporters, and friends together to catch up, kick off the season, and show their support for the team. 

Lochhead stated, “Without our supporters, we simply wouldn’t be able to provide training to our athletes to be able to compete at this level or compete in National Championships.” 

The fundraiser allows these student-athletes to pursue ski racing at the highest level. It creates funds that assist with the program’s training facilities, travel to a variety of races such as NorAms, World Juniors and World Cups, and helps cultivate overall success.