Tributes have poured in for the former NCAA All-American skier Ellery ‘Ellie’ Curtis, who died on Saturday at 26 after suffering a head injury at the Palisades Tahoe resort in Olympic Valley, California.
Curtis reportedly was pronounced dead at the scene in the Lake Tahoe area before local police had time to respond to a 3:45 p.m. distress call, per the LA Times.
Curtis was an All-American second team selection in the giant slalom discipline as a senior at Dartmouth in 2022.
The former Ivy League skier earned the national recognition by placing eighth in the event at the NCAA Championships.
Curtis’ junior season in 2021 was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic, with her return to the slopes for the Big Green.
Curtis reportedly suffered the fatal injury on the Ahhh Chute trail on Palisades’ KT-22 lift. Ski patrol first responded to the scene within minutes, per Powder.
Former NCAA All-American skier Ellery ‘Ellie’ Curtis died on Saturday at 26 in a skiing accident
Senior editor of Powder, Matt Lorelli, was skiing with Curtis that day, having met her only hours before her death.
‘Ski patrol responded to the scene within two minutes but Curtis ultimately passed away from her injuries,’ he said. ‘Ski patrol did everything they could.’
Lorelli has also been widely quoted as saying about Curtis: ‘Her smile and love for skiing were immediately infectious.;
Her coaches at Dartmouth, John C. Dwyer and Anny Jenny, told the LA Times: ‘Ellie Curtis was a hardworking, passionate and driven student athlete whose passions went beyond the snow.
‘Ellie was kind, caring and loved to be involved in many organizations and environmental projects.’
The Palisades Tahoe resort has also released a statement about the tragedy, saying: ‘Our hearts go out to the Curtis family and everyone impacted by this devastating loss.
‘Ellie was a beloved skier, and we are deeply saddened by this accident.’
Her death is reportedly one of three fatalities to occur in the same area over the past fortnight.
Corona resident Roman Lacayo died in a snowboarding accident at the Kirkwood Ski Resort 60 miles north of Palisades Tahoe on March 29, before seven-year-old Reno resident Adelyn Grimes was killed by a falling boulder at the Diamond Peak Ski Resort 24 miles east at Incline Village.
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