Industry News
A snowboarder is reportedly injured after falling from a chairlift at Colorado’s Keystone resort on Thursday, November 13.
The 27-year-old snowboarder fell from the Montezuma Express chairlift at Keystone Resort, according to resort officials. Keystone Ski Patrol responded immediately, and the rider was transported to Keystone Medical Center for evaluation where he was treated for unspecified injuries.
The incident occurred as Colorado ski areas continue to open for the 2025–26 winter season despite limited early-season snowfall. Keystone, which won the race to be the first American resort to open, has relied heavily on snowmaking to maintain operations—especially on the Montezuma side of the mountain, where the lift involved in the incident is located.
Sarah McClear, communications manager for Keystone, confirmed the fall in an email, stating only that a 27-year-old male guest “fell from the Montezuma Express chairlift” and received care from Ski Patrol before being taken to the resort’s medical facility. Summit County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Greg Schilling said deputies responded “out of an abundance of caution,” which is standard practice for chairlift incidents. The exact circumstances of the fall are currently unclear, but will be investigated by the Colorado Passenger Tramway Safety Board (CPTSB)—the agency that oversees the safety of all ski lifts in the state. Lee Rasizer, public information officer for the CPTSB, said the board is awaiting additional information from the resort as its investigation continues.
The Montezuma Express (Lift 5) is one of Keystone’s major chairlifts, a detachable high-speed six-chair by Leitner-Poma installed in 2017, that services intermediate and advanced terrain on the front side of Dercum Mountain. Known for its fast uphill capacity of 3,000 people per hour and access to popular groomers, the lift has long been a workhorse of Keystone’s peak-season operations. Incidents involving falls from detachable chairs are rare, but when they occur, investigations typically focus on loading procedures, chair spacing, guest behavior, and lift operating conditions.
Last year, a snowboard fell 50 feet of the Ruby chairlift at Keystone while adjusting his bindings. He was airlifted to hospital where he l succumbed to his injuries months later.
Located in Summit County, Colorado, Keystone is one of the state’s most popular family-friendly mountains, offering 3,100 acres of terrain, extensive night skiing, and a large snowmaking system that often helps it open early. With a base elevation over 9,000 feet and multiple high-speed lifts, the resort is no stranger to heavy holiday traffic and crowded lift lines during peak season.
Keystone has been among the Colorado areas pushing to open terrain during an unusually slow start to winter. While early November has brought only minimal natural snowfall to the central Rockies, some resorts—such as Keystone—were able to make enough snow in time for opening day.
One thought on “Snowboarder Falls from Chairlift at Keystone Resort, CO”