Snowboarder who Died in Fall on Closed Trail at Sugarloaf Mountain Identified

A tragic fall on closed terrain at Sugarloaf Mountain, Maine, claimed the life of Kendall Willard, a 63-year-old snowboarder from nearby Kingfield, on Saturday, April 5.

According to Carrabassett Valley Police Chief Mark Lopez, Willard dropped a glove while riding the lift that morning. After unloading, he entered a closed trail on foot, having removed his snowboard, in an attempt to retrieve it. The trail—closed due to hazardous conditions—proved treacherous. Willard lost his footing and slid an estimated 800 feet down an icy slope, coming to rest in a group of trees.

Ski patrol responded within minutes, arriving around 9:00 a.m., and immediately initiated life-saving measures. Despite their efforts, Willard was pronounced dead at 9:45 a.m. The Maine Medical Examiner confirmed the cause of death as blunt force trauma.

While the Sugarloaf community is no stranger to steep lines and unpredictable weather, fatal incidents like this are extremely rare. No skiing or snowboarding deaths were recorded at the resort last season.

This heartbreaking incident serves as a stark reminder that closed trails are closed for a reason. Even experienced riders can’t predict the hazards that patrol teams assess daily—everything from bulletproof ice to unstable snowpack and unseen terrain traps.

If you drop something from a lift or in a restricted area, don’t risk it. Call ski patrol. They’re trained to handle gear recovery in hazardous zones, so you don’t have to.

Our deepest condolences go out to Willard’s family, friends, and the entire Sugarloaf community during this difficult time.