Aspen Magazine / courtesy Jimmy Yeager BOULDER — The University of Colorado ski team building has been renamed in honor of late Aspenite Bryan Sax, the popular pilot, skier and bartender who died in a plane crash over the Florida Everglades in 2008. The building, on CU's east campus in Boulder, has been home to the ski team since 1990 and is undergoing renovation. It is now named the Bryan Benjamin Sax Ski Team Building in remembrance of Sax, an Aspen native and CU skier who won the individual NCAA championship in giant slalom in 1995, helping the Buffs to a team victory. The ski team building now boasts a new locker room, trophy wall and team lounge. The next phase of renovation will add additional office space, an area to review video and an update to the waxing and equipment room, according to cubuffs.com. A significant gift from the Sax family helped move the project forward, the university reported. Contributing to the ski team's facilities seemed a fitting tribute to Sax, said Alison van Sax, wife of Bryan's father, Don Sax. The trophy wall speaks to the university's rich skiing history, including Bryan's contributions, she noted. “It was perfect,” she said. “There are a lot of memories of Bryan at CU, so this was a great way to honor his legacy.” Sax was team captain while at CU, a four-year letterman and recipient of the team's Buddy Werner Award. His is the most recent national championship in men's GS for the university. “Bryan was always fun to be around,” CU head coach Richard Rokos said in the cubuffs.com article that announced the renaming of the building. “He was a dream student-athlete for any team sport. Bryan's family hosted our whole team anytime we competed in Aspen and his family has always been a big supporter of our team. I am thrilled they made the decision to financially support our program. I can't express enough how much this renovation was needed and will help our program for its extended future.” Sax shared his CU skiing experience with his sister, Rachael, who was also on the team. He graduated with degrees in business administration, finance and small-business management. Sax, who was 37 when he died, had a passion for flying and co-owned Aspen Aero Flight, a flight school based at the Aspen-Pitkin County Airport, with Gary Kraft. He was a popular bartender at Jimmy's restaurant in Aspen, and co-owned Saxy's Cafe in Basalt and Boulder with his wife, Christy. He was well known as a competitor in the grueling 24 Hours of Aspen ski race on Aspen Mountain. Nearly 1,000 people filled the grand ballroom at the St. Regis in Aspen for Sax's memorial service. Sax's wife, Christy, continues to call Aspen home, along with daughter Zaya and stepson Dante. His daughter Hannah attends the Whiteman School in Steamboat Springs where she is pursuing her own ski racing career. http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20110401/NEWS/110409999/1077&ParentProfile=1058
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