“Friends are made by many acts, and lost by only one.” – proverb

The time I have spent on the Freeskiing World Tour opened my eyes to the world around me and inspired me to make connections with the amazing and interesting people who share this world with us.  We are lucky to find our passions and fill our lives with adventure and inspiration.  Ryan Hawks was a fellow freeride skier who also made many friends during his adventure-filled life, yet his time of passing came too early at a FWT event in Kirkwood, CA in 2011.  His energy, his love of life, and most importantly his genuine compassion for those around him will be missed, but a part of him will live on in all of us who had a chance to know his smile.  To this part, how Ryan lived his days and what inspired him can be shared through the Flyin Ryan Foundation, created in his memory and with a mission to bring connectivity to adventurers worldwide.

From the Flyin Ryan Foundation website:

The Flyin Ryan Hawks Foundation is a non-profit endeavor inspired by the life of Ryan Hawks. The foundation was founded in April of 2011 after Ryan Hawks, a well-known and widely respected extreme skier died last spring from injuries sustained during a Subaru Freeskiing World Tour event in Kirkwood, CA. To honor his legacy as a person, his family set up a non-profit foundation called the Flyin Ryan Hawks Foundation. The foundation has a twofold mission:

To honor his humanity by sharing Ryan’s 13 core principles that he wrote himself and that were discovered on his computer after his death. These 13 simple principles have the power to change people’s lives and thereby make this world a better place…one person at a time.
To provide scholarships to deserving adventurers who are: financially disadvantaged, passionate about their pursuit, and represent the principles for which Ryan was widely known and admired.

Our Mission Statement:

To INSPIRE young people to live every day, all day and never stop exploring life. To EXPOSE them to the world of outdoor adventure and to TEACH Ryan’s principles of living and core values.

The Foundation plans to accomplish its mission by:

• Inspiring individuals of all ages to become Flyin Ryan Ambassadors
• Awarding scholarships to adventurers who demonstrate Ryan’s core values and whose passion is hampered by financial constraint
• Teaching Ryan’s principles of living and core values during clinics run by our Team Flyin Ryan Coaches
• Thank you for your interest and please contact us at anytime with questions.

~ Peace, Love and Deep Powder

We welcome you to become a part of the family and join in as a Flyin Ryan Ambassador.  With a $10 donation to the Flyin Ryan Foundation, you will receive:

• The Flyin Ryan Ambassador Code of Conduct contract
• A really cool Flyin Ryan Ambassador Sticker
• A quarterly electronic newsletter filled with good news and tips from our coaches
• Satisfaction that comes with being part of something that is all good