Colorado University Athletics
Miles to Go: The Enduring Legacy of Spencer Nelson
January 21, 2026 | Skiing
BOULDER -- Nearly fifteen years after his passing, Spencer Nelson continues to shape the heart of the University of Colorado Ski Team—not through results alone, but through resilience, perspective and purpose.
This past weekend, CU's alpine teams competed in Aspen for the first time in program history, a move prompted by a lack of snow at Eldora Mountain Resort. For many, it was simply a logistical adjustment. For the Nelson family, and for those who remember Spencer, it felt fitting. Aspen is close to the Maroon Bells, where Spencer lost his life in August of 2010 while hiking just weeks before what would have been his sophomore season at Colorado.
Before tragedy, there was perseverance. Months before enrolling at CU, Spencer survived a life-threatening accident. Doctors questioned whether he would ski again. Spencer didn't ask if—only when. He returned faster than anyone expected, earned a spot in the Buffaloes' lineup as a freshman, and delivered when it mattered most. At NCAA Regionals, he qualified for the national championships in the final possible race, then went on to compete for CU at the NCAA Championships.
After his death, the Buffaloes skied with heavy hearts—and remarkable resolve—winning the 2011 NCAA Skiing Championships in his honor. It became one of the most emotional and meaningful titles in program history.
Spencer's impact didn't end there. His parents, Peter Nelson and Peggy Smith, began to sponsor the Spencer James Nelson Memorial Invitational, now a cornerstone of CU's home alpine calendar. Each season, podium finishers receive distinctive belt buckles—first, second and third—symbols of grit, pride and connection to a skier whose story still resonates across generations.
Within the program, the Spencer Nelson Award is presented annually to the CU skier who best overcomes adversity. Across the entire athletic department, his name lives on through a CUSPY Award recognizing perseverance among all CU student-athletes. Beyond campus, Colorado Ski Country USA honors a Skier of the Year award bearing Spencer's name, extending his legacy throughout the state's skiing community.
Every August, on the anniversary of his passing, family, friends and supporters gather in Winter Park—his hometown—for a commemorative hike. It's not about mourning alone. It's about moving forward together.
Spencer had sayings that guided how he lived and how he competed: "No Struggles, No Progress." And perhaps most fitting: "Miles to go before I sleep." They weren't slogans to him. They were instructions.
This year, as CU raced in Aspen—closer than ever before to where Spencer's journey ended—those words felt present again. Not as a reminder of loss, but as a call to keep going. To push through setbacks. To compete with gratitude. To understand that legacy isn't measured only in wins, but in the lives you continue to influence long after you're gone.
Spencer Nelson's miles still stretch on—carried forward by every Buff who refuses to quit.
This past weekend, CU's alpine teams competed in Aspen for the first time in program history, a move prompted by a lack of snow at Eldora Mountain Resort. For many, it was simply a logistical adjustment. For the Nelson family, and for those who remember Spencer, it felt fitting. Aspen is close to the Maroon Bells, where Spencer lost his life in August of 2010 while hiking just weeks before what would have been his sophomore season at Colorado.
Before tragedy, there was perseverance. Months before enrolling at CU, Spencer survived a life-threatening accident. Doctors questioned whether he would ski again. Spencer didn't ask if—only when. He returned faster than anyone expected, earned a spot in the Buffaloes' lineup as a freshman, and delivered when it mattered most. At NCAA Regionals, he qualified for the national championships in the final possible race, then went on to compete for CU at the NCAA Championships.
After his death, the Buffaloes skied with heavy hearts—and remarkable resolve—winning the 2011 NCAA Skiing Championships in his honor. It became one of the most emotional and meaningful titles in program history.
Spencer's impact didn't end there. His parents, Peter Nelson and Peggy Smith, began to sponsor the Spencer James Nelson Memorial Invitational, now a cornerstone of CU's home alpine calendar. Each season, podium finishers receive distinctive belt buckles—first, second and third—symbols of grit, pride and connection to a skier whose story still resonates across generations.
Within the program, the Spencer Nelson Award is presented annually to the CU skier who best overcomes adversity. Across the entire athletic department, his name lives on through a CUSPY Award recognizing perseverance among all CU student-athletes. Beyond campus, Colorado Ski Country USA honors a Skier of the Year award bearing Spencer's name, extending his legacy throughout the state's skiing community.
Every August, on the anniversary of his passing, family, friends and supporters gather in Winter Park—his hometown—for a commemorative hike. It's not about mourning alone. It's about moving forward together.
Spencer had sayings that guided how he lived and how he competed: "No Struggles, No Progress." And perhaps most fitting: "Miles to go before I sleep." They weren't slogans to him. They were instructions.
This year, as CU raced in Aspen—closer than ever before to where Spencer's journey ended—those words felt present again. Not as a reminder of loss, but as a call to keep going. To push through setbacks. To compete with gratitude. To understand that legacy isn't measured only in wins, but in the lives you continue to influence long after you're gone.
Spencer Nelson's miles still stretch on—carried forward by every Buff who refuses to quit.
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