University of Colorado

A Message from the President

September 2012

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Spotlight on alumni:
Ralphie on skis: McLean's art races down slopes – and benefits CU

Throughout the decades, we've been impressed and amazed by the generosity and creativity of alumni who support CU. But who'd have thought that one day we'd see Ralphie gliding through fresh powder, around moguls and down the rugged ski slopes of Colorado? Don McLean, a 1977 graduate with a bachelor's degree in business from CU-Boulder, along with Luke Dudley, a "Buff at heart," and Steamboat local George Danellis have teamed to create College Skis. The 6-month-old company is producing a limited series of outstanding quality, beautiful CU Buffaloes skis that feature the Buffs' mascot. Proceeds from sales help support the CU-Boulder athletics department and ski team.

"There's sort of a fun discussion about the skis," McLean said. "A universal comment we get is, 'Wow they're so beautiful! I'll put them on my wall!' They are art, but also incredibly durable, high-quality all-mountain skis."

The skis, manufactured by SKILOGIK, are built of sustainable, inlaid wood, and Ralphie's horn is mother of pearl, he said. "They're beautiful and they ski well." In addition to the Buffs mascot, the skis feature the Flatirons and the CU Buffaloes herd. The selected ski model recently won accolades from Powder, Skiing, Real Skier and Freeskier magazines. Better yet, 20 percent of proceeds from sales goes to CU, about eight times more than the company is required to give under its license with the Collegiate Licensing Co. and the university.

Supporting his alma mater is personal to McLean, for whom skiing and CU are family tradition. "I have three kids who have all been ski racers," he said. His daughter, Shane, was a walk-on – or make that ski-on – last year and is now attending CU on scholarship. "I'm a proud father of three, and I know it's important to support education and these state universities that are seeing horrendous cutbacks in state funding," he said. Down the road, College Skis plans to expand the breadth of its fundraisers to other institutions, but CU is definitely getting the special alumni treatment, he said.

McLean and business partners Dudley and Danellis live in Steamboat Springs where the idea of selling skis and creating a university fundraiser was born. Before his latest venture, McLean had a successful 30-plus-year real estate career in Vail, Beaver Creek, Telluride, Alaska, and now Steamboat. "The ski business is a natural extension of my resort experience and provides an opportunity to create meaningful generosity," he said.

With a limited supply, McLean stresses the initial run of skis will likely sell out by Thanksgiving. College Skis, he believes, should be able to get more as winter progresses. The current design will be available for at least the next year, he said. After that, College Skis will look at possible design changes. "We look at this as a beginning of a longstanding relationship with CU," McLean said.

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