Body of Missing Snowboarder Connor Gill Found on Vail Mountain

After a drawn-out two-week search, the body of missing snowboarder Connor Gill was found on Friday, February 28, 2025, according to a report from VailDaily. Gill was 26 years old.

Gill, an intermediate snowboarder from the Denver area, was reported missing on Vail Mountain on February 14, 2025, around 3:15 p.m. by a friend. He was last seen boarding Vail’s Avanti Express chairlift (Chair 2) at 8:50 a.m. earlier that day. The mountain received over two feet of fresh snow over the weekend, making search efforts significantly more difficult.

Vail Ski Patrol and Vail Mountain Leadership, Eagle County Sheriff’s Office, Vail Mountain Rescue, Vail Police Department, Vail Public Safety Communications Center, Beaver Creek Ski Patrol, Breckenridge Ski Patrol, Keystone Ski Patrol, Aspen Mountain Ski Patrol, Summit County Rescue Group, Mountain Rescue Aspen, Lake County Search and Rescue, Garfield County Search and Rescue, Colorado Search and Rescue Association, and United States Forest Service all contributed to the search, according to VailDaily.

“On behalf of Vail Mountain and Vail Ski Patrol, we extend our deepest condolences to the family and friends of our guest,” said Beth Howard, Chief Operating Officer of Vail Mountain. “We appreciate all of the rescue agencies who conducted this search alongside Vail Ski Patrol.”

While neither Vail Mountain, VailDaily, or POWDER have confirmed the exact location where Gill’s body was found, reports from social media users suggest it was located under Chair 2 (Avanti Express), about two-thirds of the way up the mountain on looker's right. Reddit user Theglitchpog said, "As someone who rides everyday at Vail, nobody I know rides those trees."

Gill’s disappearance and the subsequent search sparked widespread attention, with updates circulating through social media and national news outlets. Our thoughts and condolences go out to Gill’s family and friends during this difficult time.

Skiing and snowboarding are inherently dangerous sports, and every time we venture into the mountains, there are risks involved. The unfortunate reality is that most of us have been touched by the loss of someone in the mountains. Think twice about riding alone.

Our thoughts are with Gill's friends and family during this difficult time.