Ryan has been a skier since he could walk and a racer since the age of 14. Ryan was the captain of his High School ski team, and went on to ski for the University of Minnesota in USCSA. After taking many years off from skiing and racing after college, he reconnected with Masters and started racing again in 2004, and formally joined the Midwest Masters board in 2007. He served as the Central Division Coordinator starting shortly thereafter, and was elected the US Alpine Masters National Chairman in 2023, a position he still holds. Ryan is also a licensed and active TD, Referee, and Chief of Race with US Ski & Snowboard.