Snowboarder from Watsonville Area Killed in Colorado Avalanche

A 33-year-old who grew up in Santa Cruz County was killed in an avalanche Saturday while snowboarding in Colorado.

Rick Gaukel was one of five people killed in the avalanche — the deadliest avalanche in Colorado since 1962, ESPN reports.

The Santa Cruz Sentinel reports that Gaukel was snowboarding in Loveland Pass, Colo. for the Rocky Mountain High Backcountry Bash, an event that raised funds for the Colorado Avalanche Information Center.

Gaukel was a 1998 Aptos High School graduate and attended schools in Watsonville and Pajaro Valley, according to the Sentinel. He moved to Estes, Park, Colo., where he taught. His mother lives in Capitola.

ESPN reports that Gaukel was an American Mountain Guides Association-certified snowboard instructor and a Wilderness First Responder.

He was married with no children. 

A memorial service may be held in Santa Cruz County May 4, according to the Sentinel.

Did you know Rick? Please share your memories or condolences in the comment section below. 

<!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Times; panose-1:2 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} @font-face {font-family:"ＭＳ 明朝"; panose-1:0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0; mso-font-charset:128; mso-generic-font-family:roman; mso-font-format:other; mso-font-pitch:fixed; mso-font-signature:1 134676480 16 0 131072 0;} @font-face {font-family:"ＭＳ 明朝"; panose-1:0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0; mso-font-charset:128; mso-generic-font-family:roman; mso-font-format:other; mso-font-pitch:fixed; mso-font-signature:1 134676480 16 0 131072 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"ＭＳ 明朝"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";} a:link, span.MsoHyperlink {mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; color:blue; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed {mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; color:purple; mso-themecolor:followedhyperlink; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} p {mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-margin-top-alt:auto; margin-right:0in; mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; margin-left:0in; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Times; mso-fareast-font-family:"ＭＳ 明朝"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";} .MsoChpDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; mso-default-props:yes; font-size:10.0pt; mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family:"ＭＳ 明朝"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-fareast-language:JA;} @page WordSection1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.WordSection1 {page:WordSection1;} -->

Keep up with Santa Cruz news on your computer or phone on Patch. Subscribe to the daily newsletter; Like us on Facebook; follow us on Twitter.