EDMONTON – Family and friends are mourning a 21-year-old Sherwood Park man who died on the afternoon of March 9 in a snowboarding accident in Jasper National Park.
Christopher Sorensen was snowboarding with a group of friends at Marmot Basin when the accident happened.
“He was there with a few friends, videoing, having some fun. It looks like he just caught an edge and went into a snow fence,” said Jasper RCMP Sgt. Dave Maludzinksi.
Sorensen was wearing a helmet, Maludzinksi added.
The resort’s ski patrol team was called to the hill around 1:50 p.m. and responded within minutes, said Brian Rode, vice-president of marketing and communication for Marmot Basin.
“When they’re notified of an accident on the mountain, regardless of how serious it may be, we respond,” Rode said. “Our ski patrol treated him immediately.”
Sorensen was transported to the ski resort’s first aid centre, where an ambulance was waiting, Rode said.
He was transported to hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Fatal accidents on the hill are extremely rare, Rode said.
“It really does sadden us when these sorts of things happen,” he said, adding the ski resort’s president was in touch with Sorensen’s family to offer condolences.
Friends of Sorensen, who attended school in Ardrossan, turned to social media to share their thoughts.
“Chris, the whole Ardrossan community is going to miss having such a fun, kind-hearted, energetic young man being a part of the community. May you live on from up there and continue to be in everyone’s hearts!” wrote one friend.
“It’s something that will never be forgotten and will always leave a heartache,” wrote another.
A funeral for Sorensen was held Monday afternoon. His family declined an interview request.
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