Snowmass avalanche victim died pursuing his passion
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- Created on Thursday, 24 February 2011 15:12
- Written by Nathan
Contributed photo/Aspen Times
By JANET URQUHART, THE ASPEN TIMES
ASPEN — The victim of Tuesday's avalanche in the backcountry outside the Snowmass Ski Area was identified Wednesday afternoon as Brandon John Zukoff of Snowmass Village.
The 26-year-old native of Grand Blanc, Mich. was an avid skier and outdoor enthusiast who played college football. Zukoff had written that he wanted to be remembered as “a risk taker who loves the outdoors and skis like there's no tomorrow.”
“If this was going to happen, he died doing exactly what he wanted to be doing — living life to the fullest,” said Caitlin Doyle, concierge supervisor at the Timbers Club in Snowmass Village, where Zukoff was formerly employed. “This happened too soon.”
Zukoff died when he triggered and was then caught in an avalanche as he skied down Sand's Chute off the west side of the ski area. Two companions — one who skied safely down the chute first and one who picked a new route down after the slide caught Zukoff — located and dug out their friend and determined he had been killed, authorities said at a press conference Wednesday in Aspen.
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