About Ryan

Born in Aspen to intrepid sixties powder seekers, Ryan Smalls credits his parents with setting the example that he’s always followed. Ray and Karen Smalls kept their time on snow a priority while carving lives as business leaders and community icons, never forgetting the reasons they came to Aspen in the first place. Now Ryan has charted his own course, never forgetting the reasons he stayed. Ryan grew up on the slopes, with big dreams of Olympic medals and Crystal globes. While the trophy case was never quite filled with these prizes, the worldwide journey in the pursuit delivered the best award of all: a beautiful and extremely fast bride from the sunny side of the Slovenian Alps. Fast forward, and today Anda and Ryan are raising Zala and Luka – a third generation of gritty mountain kids with Alpine and Nordic dreams of their own. His racing career abbreviated by injury, Ryan returned to Colorado with a continued appetite for elite performance, this time with a focus on academics. A degree from the University of Colorado and Phi Beta Kappa honors soon followed, a return to Ute City was imminent. As with racing, Ryan maintained clear goals: raising a family while living an inspired and inspiring mountain life. Real estate offered an opportunity to achieve that goal and to share that mindset with others. It was also a natural match for his skills: a keen awareness of market trends, well-earned local savvy, and a web of community connections that runs deeper than the El Niño winter of eighty-four. For twenty years, Ryan has guided clients with service that is as genuine and authentic as his love for his hometown. He has a particular talent for working behind the scenes to discreetly craft off-market deals for some of Aspen’s most coveted and extraordinary addresses. If you’re curious about what’s on the market, as well as what might or could be, there’s no better broker to talk to. And if you’re just curious about what makes Aspen worth returning to year after year? In that case, this native son, doting father, and tireless community advocate is happy to explain why he never left.