A man from Colorado’s Front Range died in a snowboarding accident on Keystone Resort on Monday, Jan. 19, 2025. Patrol responded to a report of a crash on Lower Go Devil, a black diamond run on the front side of the mountain. When they arrived, patrollers immediately started CPR on the victim and contacted emergency services and the Summit County Sheriff’s Department.
The snowboarder was taken to the Keystone Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
According to the report, the snowboarder involved did not crash into a tree, another person, or any blunt object. He was also wearing a helmet. The Sheriff’s Department said that he “was riding with several friends when he crashed, hitting the snow with force.”
This is the second death at Keystone since Jan. 1, 2026.
“Every loss of life on our ski slopes is deeply felt in our community,” Sheriff Jaime FitzSimons said in a statement. “We extend our sincere condolences to the snowboarder’s loved ones during this difficult time.”
The victim’s age and identity have yet to be confirmed. An investigation into Monday’s incident is currently underway, and the sheriff’s department will release more details soon. GearJunkie contacted the Summit County Sheriff’s Department for comment, but did not hear back by the time of publication.
Not Keystone’s Only ‘Serious Incident’ This Year
While deaths at ski resorts happen every year, Keystone has had three serious incidents, two of which resulted in fatalities, within a month.
On Dec. 29, 2025, a woman skiing at Keystone was involved in what was reported by the resort as a “serious incident.” Sandra Prokofi was found unresponsive with a spinal injury in the middle of the blue run, Frenchman. Her children, who witnessed the incident, confirmed that no one else had been involved.
Prokofi was flown by Flight for Life from the Keystone Medical Center to a Lakewood hospital, where she underwent emergency surgery. She survived, but is now paralyzed from the neck down and remains on life support.
Then, on Jan. 7, another skier was found unresponsive on Keystone. Eric Baltz, 59, was discovered on The Grizz in Keystone’s Outback area. Patrollers arrived on the scene and administered advanced lifesaving measures. He was transported to a helicopter and flown to CommonSpirit St. Anthony Summit Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The cause of Baltz’s death has not yet been released.
Dangerously Low Conditions
It remains unclear whether Baltz was involved in a crash, and Prokofi’s accident wasn’t directly attributed to low snow conditions. However, the sheriff’s department noted that the snowboarder who died on Monday hit the snow “with force.”
Colorado is currently experiencing one of the lowest snowpacks on record, and most of the runs currently open across the state are hardpack groomers. Typically, these runs lend themselves to faster skiing and riding, and do not have much cushion should you fall — especially this year.
Comments on the Summit County Sheriff’s Department’s Facebook statement about Monday’s incident reflected this.
“You’re not landing on snow, you’re landing on granite,” said one.
“Keystone is slick and hardpack. One bad edge catch it’s over,” said another.
“RIP. Slow down please. The conditions lend themselves greatly to these types of accidents,” wrote a third.
