Industry News
The now infamous skier accused of attempting to clear the crowd at Copper Mountain’s Annual Slopesoakers pond-skimming event last spring pleaded guilty to reckless endangerment and no contest to a misdemeanor assault charge earlier this month.
Hayden Patrick Wright, 27, was attempting the annual, end-of-season pond-skim at Copper Mountain on April 14 when he flew off the course and into the crowd, breaking a woman’s collarbone and injuring several others.
While it remains unclear whether or not Wright tried to jump the crowd on purpose, witnesses after the incident said Wright announced his intentions while holding a drink earlier that morning, his behavior was reckless enough to spur charges from the District Attorney’s Office.
Wright pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor reckless endangerment charge, and no contest to a misdemeanor third-degree assault charge to which he received a two-year deferred judgment and sentence.
In addition to upwards of $1,000 in court fees, Wright’s judgment also includes 120 hours of useful public service, 10 days in jail by the end of the year and prohibitions from alcohol and non-prescribed drugs. His deferred judgment and sentence will end in August 2020, though only the first year will be supervised.
Yet another flake contributing to the avalanche of liability that will bury the sport of skiing. He certainly ruined the remainder of the ’17-’18 season of those he injured, I wonder if his victims are going to be able to ski in the ’18-’19 season.
His criminal conviction should wrench open the door to to civil judgement. Additionally, a lifetime ban from Copper Mountain (as well as the other resorts operated by Powdr Corp) would be appropriate. Lastly, let’s hope that Colorado refuses to expunge this conviction so that he runs into trouble with employment background checks and can no longer afford the sport. This man should not ski.
Concur.