A skier who once stood atop collegiate podiums has died following a crash in one of Palisades Tahoe’s steepest zones. The Placer County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that 26-year-old Ellery Curtis suffered a fatal head injury on Saturday, April 5, while skiing a technical run called “Ah Chute” off the resort’s iconic KT-22 chairlift.
Curtis, who was originally from Waitsfield, Vermont, was a standout ski racer at Dartmouth College in New Hampshire before relocating to California. According to her LinkedIn profile, she earned her degree in government and environmental studies and had recently been working for the California Public Utilities Commission in San Francisco.
A report from SFGATE on Monday states that Curtis joined a group of friends at the top of KT-22 shortly before heading into the Ah Chute—a steep, narrow line in an area of the mountain known as the Rock Garden. Several people witnessed the fall, including Matt Lorelli, Senior Editor for Powder Magazine, who first reported the tragedy. Ski patrol arrived on the scene within minutes and administered CPR and emergency medical care, but Curtis did not survive. Palisades Tahoe later released a statement expressing condolences to Curtis’ family and friends.
Curtis’ background in skiing ran deep. At Dartmouth, she competed at the highest level of collegiate ski racing and was widely respected in the racing and freeride communities alike. Her transition from East Coast racer to California freerider was marked by a continued love for the mountains and a strong sense of camaraderie with fellow skiers. Her passing has sent ripples through the ski world, particularly among those who knew her both on and off the hill.
Curtis is remembered for her talent, intellect, and warmth by the Palisades Tahoe ski community. The loss is a painful reminder of the risks present in steep terrain, even at ski areas and even for the most experienced of athletes.
