[leadin]Skiers and snowboarders have a history of minor conflict, but things got violent in Aspen earlier this week when a skier shoved a snowboarder off the chairlift high above the ground.[/leadin]
The incident, spurned by a comment about “tits deep powder shots” at Aspen Highlands, resulted in a 20 to 25 foot fall. Thanks to some luck and the aforementioned powder, snowboarder Seth Beckton was not injured.
Can’t we all just get along?
According to a report in the Aspen Times, Beckton was riding the Lodge Peak chairlift around 9:30 a.m. with a skier in his 20s or early 30s. The two were discussing the beautiful snow conditions.
WARNING! Be on the lookout for a skier chucking snowboarders off chairlifts. Yes, this is real.. Happened to me today…
Posted by Seth Beckton on Sunday, 17 January 2016
Near the top of the lift, Beckton said he made a comment about it being easier to get face shots of powder on skis compared with a snowboard.
Beckton then said this most excellent quote: “To get tits-deep pow shots you just need to be on your edges.”
The skier turned to him and said, “Are you making fun of me?”
Thinking the conversation was nothing more than lighthearted joking, he answered with, “Not really — but maybe.”
The skier did not take it lightly, grabbing Beckton and shoving him off the chair. Beckton said another person was riding the same chair, but did not know the relationship between the other men.
“I honestly thought I was dead,” Beckton said. “Because I didn’t know where we were (within the lift path). It’s not cool to think anyone would do that.”
His priorities squarely in order, uninjured, and not wanting to waste a powder day, Beckton didn’t report the incident until later that afternoon.
Jeff Hanle, spokesman for Aspen Skiing Co., told the Aspen Times that reporting the incident earlier would have given ski patrollers a better chance of finding the perpetrator.
According to some Facebook comments, other skiers did witness the incident.
“I was on DT with a local guy who said he saw that, but thought you just fell,” commented Facebook user Keegan Daley.
The company plans a full investigation and will try to find witnesses and track down the skier, he said.
