David Wubben

A Lifetime Outdoors: Quiet Miles, Deep Roots

Some people discover the outdoors later in life. Others are shaped by it from the very beginning. Born in Salinas, California, and raised almost entirely in Western Colorado, his story begins in Grand Junction – where mesas, monuments, and open space quietly set the foundation for a lifelong connection to movement, mountains, and snow. Within the first year of life, Colorado became his home. Today, he lives in Golden, Colorado, where he spent the past 34 years with his wife, building a life rooted in the outdoors they love and continue to explore together. 

Skiing entered his life not through luxury or expensive gear, but through opportunity. In junior high, his school offered an outdoor recreation class with weekly lessons at Powderhorn Mountain, a small resort tucked into the Grand Mesa. For just $15, students received equipment rental, instruction, and transportation to and from the mountain. “It was such a deal!” he recalls. That accessibility mattered. It made skiing feel possible, welcoming, and fun.

Later, in high school, he gravitated toward cross-country skiing on the Grand Mesa. Those early miles planted the foundation for a lifelong appreciation of exploration, endurance, and the simplicity of earning every turn. Cross-country skiing stayed with him through college and beyond, fueled by easy access to the Indian Peaks Wilderness and the freedom to explore the backcountry on his own terms.  That independence became a defining joy.  Later, downhill skiing took on a deeper meaning, not as a solo pursuit, but as something to share.  “When my kids were old enough to ski, it really mattered,” he says. “It meant we could do it together.”

Much of his athletic and outdoor foundation traces back to his father, who ran the local running club in Grand Junction and organized races through the Grand Valley.  Weekends were spent hiking the Colorado National Monument, exploring trails simply to see what lay beyond the next bend.  “That’s where my love of the outdoors was sealed,” he says.  It was always about curiosity, movement, and being outside. 

While he doesn’t seek recognition, his personal accomplishments speak for themselves. They include summiting all of Colorado’s 14ers with his wife, trekking to Everest Base Camp via Nepal’s Three Passes Route at age 59, summiting Longs Peak in 2 hours and 10 minutes via the Keyhole Route, biking from Seattle to San Francisco along the coast, and completing a 100-mile round-trip ride from Golden to the summit of Mount Evans. If he could relive one moment, it would be standing atop Gokyo Pass in Nepal, with Everest rising in the distance—clear, massive, and unforgettable.

The outdoors isn’t tied to a single memory for him – it’s the foundation of his life. It’s where he recharges and refuels, woven into his daily rhythm for as long as he can remember. Nearly every day has meant lacing up trail shoes for a run or hike, clipping into a bike to climb a mountain, or stepping into skis for a day on the slopes.  His life is filled with meaningful experiences, all connected by the same thread: movement, challenge, and a deep connection to outdoor adventure. 

If skiing has taught him anything, it’s this: know your limits, and respect them. That lesson has carried through every stage of life, shaping not just how he approaches the sport, but how he pursues longevity, balance, and joy.

Today, skiing remains part of his daily life through a new lens – watching his daughter and son develop their own deep connection to the outdoors and the sport. It’s a full-circle moment, witnessing the next generation discover the mountains on their own terms and carry that passion forward. 

What makes skiing special isn’t just the turns – it's the camaraderie, the chairlift conversations, and the shared pursuit of a good day on the mountains. There’s an unspoken understanding that everyone is there for the same reason: to experience something positive.  And perhaps most uniquely, it’s the fact that he’s been able to share it all with his wife. “She’s a great athlete,” he says simply.

For those discovering skiing, or already immersed in it, his advice is straightforward: know your ability, understand your equipment, learn the sport the right way, and always have fun. 

When asked how he defines himself in skiing, he sees himself as someone who seeks the full experience.  For Dave, skiing has never just been about performance; it's about freedom, family, exploration, and the quiet joy of being exactly where he's meant to be – out in the mountains.