UPDATE, 4:35 p.m.: This story has been updated to include a statement by Jackson Hole Mountain Resort.
JACKSON, Wyo. — Max Martin, a Jackson local, Jackson Hole Mountain Resort (JHMR) athlete and beloved community member has died following a ski accident on Sunday, Jan. 18, in Japan. Specifics surrounding the incident have not yet been made public.
“We’re heartbroken to share the loss of our friend and JHMR athlete, Max Martin,” JHMR’s Tuesday statement reads. “Max’s passion for the mountains, his generosity of spirit, and his love for this community left a lasting mark on everyone who had the privilege of skiing and spending time alongside him. Raised in the Tetons, Max’s talent as a skier was matched only by his humility, kindness, and love for the mountains. From his roots in ski racing to traveling the world in pursuit of big terrain and new adventures, he believed the mountains were among life’s most powerful teachers and treated everyone he met like an old friend. His energy, kindness, and adventurous spirit will forever inspire us. We send our deepest condolences to Max’s family, friends, teammates, and the many communities touched by this tremendous loss. Our hearts are with all who loved him.”
An outpouring of support and mourning flooded social media after the news broke to the community over the holiday weekend.
“Max was a pillar of the Jackson community and I can’t express how much he will be missed,” athlete Veronica Paulsen shared in an Instagram post. “Love you forever Max.”
“I’ve never heard a negative word come out of his mouth,” said Madison Rose Ostergren, another JHMR athlete and local pro skier, on Instagram. “Max brought stoke, kindness and positivity to every single day, and everyone around him was better for it.”
The GoFundMe created to bring Martin back to the U.S. and support his wife during this challenging time has raised just over $200,000 as of Tuesday morning.
