Montana snowboarder Jeffrey Zinne dies after fall from ski chairlift
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A snowboarder at a southern Montana ski resort was killed Monday after falling from a chair lift, according to a social media post from the ski resort where it happened.

“Yesterday was an unfortunate day at Red Lodge Mountain as a guest was injured as the result of a chair lift incident,” the  shared on Facebook Tuesday morning, adding that the guest was on the Triple Chair. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the guest and his friends and family, and all guests and employees impacted by this incident.”

 and Carbon County Sheriff Josh McQuillan identified the man as 37-year-old Jeffrey Zinne.

He died after a fall from the Triple Chair at Red Lodge Mountain, Sheriff McQuillan said Friday, adding that the accident remains under investigation.

He was life-flighted to a hospital in Billings, where he died on Wednesday, according to , a GoFundMe organizer raising funds for his family.

He was pronounced dead early Wednesday morning, KTVQ reported. According to , the coroner's office said his cause of death was accidental blunt force injury.

The coroner did not immediately respond to USA TODAY’s requests for comment Friday morning.

In an updated statement Friday afternoon, Red Lodge Mountain said the company is "deeply saddened" by Zinne's death.

"Our most heartfelt condolences go out to Mr. Zinne’s family and friends," the company said, adding that safety is a top priority at the facility. "We are working in cooperation with the Carbon County Sheriff's Office and Iron Mountain Engineering, an independent professional lift inspector, to understand how this tragedy occurred. Until more is known, the Triple Chair will remain closed."

[](https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2025/03/14/montana-snowboarder-jeffrey-zinne-dies-falls-ski-chairlift/82401074007/)

Tragic accident: 

Meteorologist says there were strong winds in the area the day man died
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USA TODAY spoke with Peter Matos, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Billings Friday morning.

While the National Weather Service doesn’t have a weather observation site at Red Lodge Mountain, there are some close by, Matos said. One site is the Timbercrest site, Matos said. Around 11:15 a.m. on Monday, the Timbercrest site recorded wind gusts up to 50 miles-per-hour, coming in from the west. At 12:15 p.m. that day, the site recorded wind gusts around 52 miles-per-hour. Citing local reports, Matos said Zinne fell around noon.

[](https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2025/03/14/montana-snowboarder-jeffrey-zinne-dies-falls-ski-chairlift/82401074007/)

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