Snowboarder dies after hitting tree at Whistler

A 24-year-old snowboarder from Australia has diedafter slipping and colliding with some trees on Thursday in the Harmony Bowl area of Whistler Mountain.

The accident happened in-bounds on a steep forested slope between the Ratfink and Chunky's Choice runs, according to RCMP Staff Sgt. Steve LeClair.

The victim and an unidentified woman "got into some terrain that was quite steep," LeClair said.

"They'd taken off their snowboards in an attempt to walk down the hill. And the male slipped, slid down the hill and appears to have impacted with some trees on the way down and suffered serious head trauma."

The man was taken by helicopter to the Whistler Health Care Centre and then transferred to a hospital in Vancouver, where he died from his injuries last night.

LeClair said the tragedy is a reminder hazards exist within and outside the ski area.

Earlier this month a skier from Okalahoma diedafter falling off a cliff in the Franz's Meadow area of Whistler.