Stephen Reinhold Rieschl

Colorado Ski Hall of Famer, Stephen Reinhold Rieschl, 87, made his final ski jump into the arms of Jesus on April 26, 2025. 

Steve was born on July 16, 1937, to Raymond and Evelyn (Winkelmann) Rieschl, in Minneapolis and grew up in Robbinsdale, Minnesota. 

Steve’s father began teaching him to ski when he was 3 ½ years old, and by age 11, Steve was skiing competitively. When he was 13, he traveled to Steamboat Springs for his first national ski tournament which led to his lifelong love of the mountains and Colorado. During his senior year in high school, he won the Junior Nationals in ski jumping and was chosen by the student body as “Athlete of the Year” after lettering in five sports. 

Steve graduated from Robbinsdale High School in 1955 and left home that fall to attend Western State College (WSC) in Gunnison, Colorado. As a member of the WSC ski team Steve was coached by and competed under the direction of Skiing Hall of Famer and former Olympic coach, Sven Wiik. 

After graduating from WSC in 1959, Steve was excited to represent the United States as a ski jumper in the 1960 Winter Olympic games at Squaw Valley, California. 

While he was at WSC Steve began his long career of teaching and coaching skiers. He coached local teams, Junior National teams and in 1962 was captain of the US Nordic Ski Team. Steve started coaching in Gunnison, where he also helped to develop the local slalom and ski jumping area called Cranor Hill. He went on to coach in Summit County, Aspen and Steamboat Springs.

Steve began the first commercial ski touring school in the United States in 1969, called “Steve Rieschl’s Ski Touring School”, with one instructor. That eventually grew to 14 instructors and became the Vail Touring School in 1974. 

After many years of athletic and professional success Steve began to question what his real purpose in life was. He spent two years of serious soul searching. He prayed that God would lead him in his search for truth, and God answered. God brought four of Steve’s most respected mentors into his life and they each encouraged him in his faith. 

After leaving Vail, Steve began Ambush Ranch in Crested Butte, which offered cross-country ski instruction, guide service, rentals, a ski shop and a maintained track system. He combined his education, love of sport and his faith into a Christian Outdoor Ministry.

As Steve’s personal relationship with Jesus grew his desire to make a difference in the lives of others also increased, and Ambush Ranch became Ambush Ministries Inc. Steve’s passion was to walk with people in relationship, caring, sharing, and offering encouragement. Skiing and outdoor adventures were the tickets that opened the door to build those relationships. 

Eventually Ambush Ranch moved to Nathrop, Colorado, where Steve continued to walk in relationship with so many friends. In later years as his health deteriorated Steve moved to Cheyenne, Wyoming. He eventually returned to Colorado, living in both Windsor and Loveland, and he continued to minister to others all his life. 

In addition to his skiing accomplishments, Steve served his country in the Naval Reserves. He was a legendary polka dancer, an author, a photographer, a yodeler, a prolific letter writer, a wonderful friend and mentor to many and could dead pan a joke with the best of them. Most importantly, he was a follower of Jesus and lived to share that joy with others. 

Steve was preceded in death by his parents Raymond and Evelyn Rieschl and by his brother-in-law, Roger Richison. 

He is survived by his sister Diane Richison of Siren, Wisconsin, his nephew Steve (Lisa) Richison, and nieces Joan (Chuck) O’Fallon, and Wendy (David) Marek. 

A Celebration of Life will be held June 14, 2025, at Clearview Community Church in Buena Vista, Colorado. Interment will follow at Mt. Olivet Cemetery.