Remembering Chris Ringsven
Printed From: ProfessorPaddle.com
Category: General
Forum Name: Whitewater Forum
Forum Discription: Open Discussion Forum. Whitewater related subjects only
URL: http://www.professorpaddle.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=10282
Printed Date: 19 Sep 2025 at 4:40am
Topic: Remembering Chris Ringsven
Posted By: WA-Boater
Subject: Remembering Chris Ringsven
Date Posted: 02 Dec 2010 at 1:05pm
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Ten years ago today, Chris pinned on a rapid in the LaGrande Canyon of the Nisqually and drowned. Chris was a great guy. He had not been in Washington long, but everyone who paddled with him loved him. He was a great paddler, incredible skier and humble person. Chris moved to Washington from Minnesota where they now hold a memorial ski race for him. There is a scholarship set-up in his name for Junior Olympic skiers. Here is a brief summary of Chris' life: Christopher Michael Ringsven 1973 - 2000 Christopher Michael Ringsven was born January 29, 1973, in Sydney, Australia, to the parents of Arthur and Renata. He moved with his family to Minnesota in 1974, where he graduated from the Hopkins school district in 1991. He then graduated from Williams College in Williamstown, MA with a B.A. in music. Christopher returned to Minnesota and received his teaching certificate in music from the University of Minnesota. Christopher quickly found that he had two loves above all the rest -- one was sports and the other was music. His love in music began with the piano, and under the guidance of his mother, he discovered that composition and the mechanics of playing came very easy for him, leading to local and national awards. The piano continued to be his first love, but he also found himself enthused about voice and choir, helping to point the way to receiving his B.A. in music, and subsequently his teaching certificate. He then spent ½ year in Cambridge, MN, teaching band and choir, before accepting a similar music position with the Cle-Elum-Roslyn school district of Washington state. His other love was sports, where he found that he enjoyed the endurance sports of cross country running, cross country skiing, and track. Throughout his high school years he achieved a high level of success, leading to his being named Hopkins Male Athlete of the year in 1991. He continued his cross country skiing at Williams College where he was captain of his team his senior year. For two years while getting his teaching certificate, he was the Hopkins cross country ski coach. Along the way, Christopher discovered he was fascinated by whitewater kayaking, but had little time to get involved. That changed after college when he found the time. For the next six years he found himself going with his fellow kayakers to tackle the north and north shore rivers. His dream became the mountains and rivers of Washington state and he was able to fulfill that dream when he accepted the music teaching position at Cle- Elum-Roslyn in Washington. He started this position in September of 2000 and repeatedly remarked how well the people of his school district and fellow kayakers had accepted him. He had found his dream. Chris Ringsven January 29th, 1973 to December 2, 2000 
 
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Replies:
Posted By: GHannam
Date Posted: 02 Dec 2010 at 2:36pm
| Thank you for sharing this, Darren! |
Posted By: franzhorner
Date Posted: 02 Dec 2010 at 3:22pm
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I moved here right around the same time that Chris did. I remember when this accident happened and although I never met Chris I remember thinking how tragic it was being that he had just got his taste of this place just like me. Ten years later I am reminded of the feeling I had when I first came here and the excitement I had at all the adventuring I had to do. Ten years later I still have that same feeling.... Thanks for sharing this Darren... ------------- MORE RAIN PLEASE |
Posted By: JoesKayak
Date Posted: 02 Dec 2010 at 3:58pm
| Thanks for sharing this. I remember when this happened. Very sad. |
Posted By: jella
Date Posted: 03 Dec 2010 at 11:50am
| RIP Chris Ringsven |