Aaron Robinson, a Whitefish native and professional snowboarder, died Tuesday after a backcountry accident in Chile, according to multiple news reports. He was 24.
Robinson was snowboarding in the Chilean region known as Santa Teresita, according to ESPN, when he fell and hit his head on rocks. Arnau Fernández, the marketing manager at Valle Nevado in Chile, confirmed Robinson’s death with a source who notified ESPN.
“Though it is technically an out-of-bounds run, Santa Teresita is a popular backcountry area accessed off the back of a lift at the base of the El Colorado resort,” the ESPN story states. “No further details were available, but Fernández confirmed that an avalanche did not occur at the time of the accident.”
Colin Wiseman, editorial director of Frequency magazine, called Robinson one of the “most talented young snowboarders on the planet.”
“His confident, relaxed style in all terrain was a joy to watch,” Wiseman said, according to ESPN. “His outgoing, positive attitude was unsurpassed. I had the good fortune of spending a fair bit of time on the road with him, and he brought energy and stoke that inspired the crew around him to make the most of each and every day, no matter the circumstances. I’m really going to miss him.”
According to Transworld Snowboarding: “Aaron was an accomplished backcountry rider twice winning the North Face Masters, laying claim to gold duct tape at the Baker Banked Slalom, and endowed with enviable powder-hunting skills that always had him in the deep. Our sincerest and deepest condolences go out to his family and friends.”