The Carrabassett Valley Police Department has identified the snowboarder who tragically passed away over the weekend at Sugarloaf Mountain in Maine. Authorities confirmed the victim as 63-year-old Kendall Willard, a resident of Kingfield.
The incident occurred on Saturday morning, April 5, 2025, around 9 a.m., when Willard was injured while snowboarding on a closed trail. Police report that he was found approximately 800 feet from the top of the trail, off the main path in the woods. Ski patrol responded to the scene and located Willard unresponsive.
He was swiftly transported to the resort’s first aid room, where emergency medical staff attempted to revive him. Despite their best efforts, Willard was pronounced dead at approximately 9:45 a.m. on the same morning.
In a statement released later that day, Sugarloaf Mountain Resort confirmed the tragic incident, acknowledging it as a “fatal incident involving a guest.” They expressed their deepest condolences to the family of Willard, noting, “Out of respect and privacy for the family, we are unable to share any additional details, but we express our deepest sympathy to the family for the loss.”
While the cause of the accident remains under investigation, the ski resort has confirmed that Willard was on a closed trail at the time of the incident. This has prompted further review of the circumstances surrounding the event.
As the investigation continues, the Carrabassett Valley Police Department and the Maine Warden Service are working closely to determine what led to the fatal accident.
The tragic loss has left the Sugarloaf Mountain community in shock, and tributes have begun to pour in for the beloved skier, who had been a familiar face on the slopes for many years.
Our thoughts and condolences go out to Kendall Willard’s family and friends during this incredibly difficult time.