The man who died after jumping off a cliff in East Vail yesterday has been identified by the Vail Daily as 44 year-old local snowboarder, Bindu Sky Pomeroy.
Professional skier John Spriggs was on the scene at the time of the accident. Spriggs told the Vail Daily that Pomeroy landed in the snow headfirst and likely suffocated. It took the group some 7 minutes to reach the buried victim. He was reported dead later by the Eagle County Sheriff’s Department.
“Bindu had an infectious energy that kept everyone around him excited to be on the mountain and especially in the backcountry. Of all the people I know who ride East Vail he had probably the most experience in that area,” Spriggs said. “He also knew the risks. Bindu was last in our group to hit a large cliff, he landed head first and sunk into the snow. Our group estimates it was about seven minutes before we were able to reach him; we performed CPR for the next hour but were unable to revive him. I hope the sad circumstances surrounding his death can be a reminder to others of how quickly a situation can turn tragic in the backcountry. But I also hope his loved ones can take comfort in the fact that he died doing what he loved most, and had been incredibly happy in the moments leading up to his death.” – vaildaily.com
A teacher at the Vail Ski & Snowboard Academy, Pomeroy was known throughout the Vail Valley as an inspired, dedicated man who spent countless hours teaching children about social studies when he wasn’t on the hill.
“I will never forget the times he ran into class covered in snow, still in his snowboard boots saying ‘traffic was bad’ or ‘if Grimmer asks I’m in the bathroom’ so he could live his best life in his East Vail home,” wrote Zoe Livran on behalf of Vail Ski & Snowboard Academy Class of 2017 graduates.”
*Our deepest condolences go out tot he victim’s friends and family
Find the entire Vail Daily article here: Community mourns Bindu Sky Pomeroy, “The Mayor of East Vail”