Colter Monaghan Hale

Colter, Trickster, Coco, Chief, Colty, Colt, beloved son, brother and friend, sadly and unexpectedly died on May 16, 2023, at the age of 27. He is survived by his father, Brent; mother, MaryBeth; brother, Parker; sister, Callie; grandfather, Lemont; and grandmother, Norma; along with many very special aunts, uncles, cousins and friends. He was pre-deceased by his grandfather, John V. O’Donnell and grandmother, Genevieve O’Donnell.

Colter was born in Denver, Colorado and grew up in the Winter Park area graduating from Middle Park High School. As a youngster, it quickly became evident that he was an amazing athlete as well as a thrill-seeker. Frequently the ultimate daredevil, he climbed from balcony to balcony to reach his parents’ room on the 4th floor of a resort—at the age of four—and hung on the outside of the Cherry Creek escalator as it roared to the top—at roughly the same age!

Colter played--and usually excelled—at every sport he undertook, including golf, soccer and baseball. But when time constraints demanded that he narrow his attention to one sport, it was skiing, hands down. While he started out skiing alpine, he quickly veered to freestyle skiing slopestyle and joined the Winter Park Freeride Team at age 13. He then began reaching the podium regularly, winning back-to-back Rev Tour competitions in 2014 and competing in the Junior World Championships in Valmalenco, Italy. Highly ranked in the International Slopestyle rankings, Colter became renown for his “Cork 3” and “Flat 5” tricks. He mesmerized spectators with his unique style, grace and unwavering smoothness. His passion for the sport was unmatched.

“Chief,” as he was called on the slopes, got his nickname not only because of the XXXL white coat that he wore with an Indian head on the back, but because he truly was the leader of his fellow skiers. His amazing talent with gravity-defying tricks in the terrain park commanded respect worthy of that title.

After knee injuries that ended his competitive ski career, Colter went on to channel his sense of style and panache, graduating from the Aveda School of Cosmetology in Denver. As a cosmetologist, he focused his talents on styling and barbering for men. When he met friends and family, it was not uncommon for him to do a quick “touch up” on your hair as part of his greeting. His co-workers at Barba Denver attest to the fact that “the kid from Winter Park,”—who they never thought would make it at the shop— singlehandedly changed the culture of the workplace, introducing rap music, bringing his beloved puppy, Frankie, to work, and distributing food, and happiness.

His friends speak to the legacy that he left behind: kindness—to the youngest of cousins, to the oldest of grandparents; fun-loving—including surprising friends with mannequin heads in their beds; lighting up the room when he walked in with his smile, stories and approachability; and showing up as his “true self” which encouraged others to do the same. He was gifted with the ability to meet and make friends wherever he

went. It was stunning to discover how many people—and all types of people—knew Colter Hale.

Colter was full of joy, kindness and laughter. He cared deeply about others. A loving son, brother, friend, and colleague; he will live in our hearts forever and is incredibly missed. Colter Monaghan Hale, you are loved.

Colter M. Hale Freeskier Fund

Colter’s family will be establishing the “Colter M. Hale Freeskier Memorial Fund” which will be used in part to assist promising young slopestyle skiers in the Winter Park Competition Center. Contributions to the fund may be venmoed to @MaryBeth-Hale-2