Skier Pushes Snowboarder Off of Lift

I have never been skiing or snowboarding before... I know, I know crazy to think that a Coloradoan has never done that before, but that is me. One of my fears when I eventually do go is falling off the lift. In this guys case he was pushed off by a skier on the way to the top. 

The incident happened at the Aspen Highlands on Sunday around 9:30 in the morning. According to Seth Beckton, the man who was pushed, was riding with a skier up the Loge Peak chairlift when the skier took offense to a comment he made. Beckton said they were chatting about the fresh powder near the top of the lift when he made comment about it being easier to get face shots on powder on skis as opposed to a snowboard. Beckton also quoted himself saying "to get tits-deep pow shots you just need to be on your edges".

That is when he said the skier turned to him and asked "are you making fun of me?" he wasn't sure how to take the comment because the skier was wearing a helmet and goggles so he couldn't see his face. Beckton said he wasn't making fun of the man, but told him "not really... But maybe". That's when it happened...

The skier said to Beckton "If you think that's funny, do you think this is funny?" and pushed him off the lift. Beckton said he fell face first 20 to 25 feet off of the lift into a large pocket of snow.

"I honestly thought I was dead because I didn't know where we were. It's not cool to think anyone would do that" stated Beckton.  Since he was not injured, he was not going to let the incident ruin his day on the slopes and did not report what happened until the end of the day.

Deputy Alex Burchetta who is the Director of Operations for the Pitkin County Sheriff's Office said on Monday that his agency is looking into the incident and working with officials at Aspen Highlands reviewing video taken on the mountain on Sunday.

The skier has been described as wearing gray pants, a burgundy and tan two-toned jacket, an old silver Giro helmet, Smith mirrored goggles and possible facial hair.

Like I said before, I have never been skiing, but an incident like this makes me think there should be a guard to keep you on the lift, just in case you sit next to someone who feels the urge to push you off of the lift!

Source: Aspen Times