A 20-year-old man died Sunday morning attempting a jump at a Snowmass Mountain Resort terrain park, officials said Sunday afternoon.
The snowboarder died after attempting the first jump at the Makaha Terrain Park just after 11 a.m. and ski patrol received a call from someone riding the Village Express lift, an Aspen Skiing Co. official said.
No other details about the victim, including his name or hometown, were immediately available Sunday, Pitkin County Sheriff’s Deputy Michael Buglione said. That information will come from the Pitkin County Coroner’s Office once the family is notified.
“Patrol responded immediately and found the man unresponsive with no pulse or breathing,” Aspen Skiing Co. spokesman Jeff Hanle said Sunday afternoon. “They began advanced life-saving procedures. They were unable to re-establish a pulse and the man was pronounced dead by the Pitkin County Coroner.
“Our deepest sympathies and thoughts go out to the man’s family and friends, and we are offering support and assistance.”
The jump is just under the Village Express lift, which was shut down for a brief period Sunday after the incident.
The Makaha Park remained closed Sunday afternoon as ski patrollers continued their investigation at a jump.
According to the resort’s website, the Makaha Park “offers a logical next step up the progression ladder with its mix of intermediate and advanced features, ranging in size from medium to large. There are about 25 features in total, a progressive line of midsized jumps and about 15 jib features including all shapes of boxes and rails. Great area for learning new tricks and working on progression.”
The last reported death at Snowmass in the winter was in February 2016 when well-known businessman and Aspen local Donald Drapkin on Feb. 15 fell from a standing position, hit his head but then got up. He died a week later from injuries sustained in the fall. Before that, three people died in the spring of 2014 at Snowmass.
Two men have died in the past two summers while mountain biking at the resort. David Eckardt 62, of Woody Creek died in September 2018 while riding the expert Valhalla trail, and David Duff, 67, of Kentucky died in July 2017 on the same trail.