Utah — Over the past few years, a young skier’s career was derailed by a fateful day at an Oregon waterfall. The question is whether the team she raced with should be held liable.
ABC4Utah reports that the family of a ski racer is suing the Park City Ski & Snowboard Team over actions that led to the injury of their child, resulting in ailments that continue to impact her life.
Back in 2021, a fourteen-year-old girl and other members of the Park City Ski & Snowboard Team were on a ski training trip at Mt. Hood. While off the slopes, one of the activities that the group engaged in was cliff jumping at Punchbowl Falls. The cliff jumps ranged from around twenty to seventy feet. The girl, who’s only named by the acronym H.K. in court documents, did several jumps into the water. On her final jump, she landed on a pile of rocks.
According to court documents, this landing resulted in the “shattering many of the bones of both of her feet and ankles.” The past few years have resulted in extensive physical therapy and recovery for her, and more time on the mend is expected. The family alleges that the team is liable for the injury, as they believe that the coaches shouldn’t have taken the group cliff jumping or should have warned them about the risks. With the team having connections to elite athletes, they believe that the students would trust the coach’s judgment.
They also claim that, outside of skiing, the coaches informed the parents of the kids that they would only participate in dryland activities.
Attorneys who represent the family issued the following statement to ABC4 Utah.
“This case is about a young girl who was catastrophically injured after her coaches, without her parents’ knowledge or consent, pressured her to jump off a cliff. H.K. was only fourteen. She trusted her coaches. That trust was betrayed.
Her injuries are permanent. Her pain is daily. Her dreams have been stolen.
No child should be put in that position. No family should have to endure this. We filed this lawsuit to hold those responsible accountable and to prevent this from happening to anyone else.”
Park City Ski & Snowboard declined to comment, as they do not issue statements regarding pending litigation.
Image/Video Credits: Patrick Henry, ABC4 Utah, Park City Mountain Resort
