By Cris Alarcon, InEDC Writer. (April 9, 2025) — OLYMPIC VALLEY, Calif. — Ellery “Ellie” Curtis, a 26-year-old former NCAA All-American alpine skier from Dartmouth College, died Saturday in a skiing accident at Palisades Tahoe resort. The Placer County Sheriff’s Department reported that Curtis suffered a fatal head injury while skiing the challenging “Ahhh Chute” trail near the KT-22 lift and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Curtis, originally from Waitsfield, Vermont, was a standout athlete at Dartmouth, earning second-team All-American honors in the giant slalom and serving as captain of the women’s alpine ski team. Her former coach praised her dedication and work ethic, noting her significant contributions both on and off the slopes.
After graduating in 2022 with a degree in government and environmental policy, Curtis moved to San Francisco to work as a regulatory analyst at the California Public Utilities Commission. She was also known for her passion for outdoor activities, including camping, biking, and hiking.
Her death marks the fourth fatality at Palisades Tahoe and the fifth in the Sierra Nevada region this year.
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The National Ski Areas Association reports an average of 39 skiing and snowboarding-related deaths per year in the United States, primarily resulting from collisions with other skiers or fixed objects like trees. While skiing carries inherent risks, the likelihood of a fatal accident remains less than one in a million.
The ski community, including friends, teammates, and colleagues, has expressed profound sorrow over Curtis’s passing, remembering her as a talented athlete and a cherished friend.
