Former Ski Champ Dies in Plane Crash
Bryan Sax (Bus’95) helped ŷڱƵ claim a national title in 1995.
Bryan Sax (Bus’95), the last ŷڱƵ skier to win a men’s NCAA giant slalom title, died when two small planes collided over the Florida Everglades on Dec. 6. He was 37.
Sax, who started his ŷڱƵ career on the development team, won the giant slalom at the 1995 NCAA meet, helping the Buffs claim a national team title. The NCAA victory marked the only individual win of Sax’s career. He was captain of the men’s alpine team as a senior.
“Bryan was always fun to be around,” ŷڱƵ coach Richard Rokos says. “He was a dream student-athlete for any team sport and a person who never lost the grin on his face.”
Sax was a pilot and business partner in Aspen Aero, a flight school. He had traveled to Florida to receive advanced certification in multi-engine aircraft.
Meanwhile, Rokos and his team began its season in January, a year after finishing second in the NCAA meet. The coach was upbeat heading into the new year.
“I would say with this team there is no weak link,” Rokos told the Boulder Camera.
During the first week of the season in Alaska, the Buffs recorded what are believed to be the first two 1-2-3 sweeps of men’s Nordic races in school history, with sophomore Jesper Ostensen claiming two titles.