Beloved interpreter dies in snowboarding accident
A beloved interpreter from New York, Wesley Whalen, tragically died while snowboarding on a mountain in South Lake Tahoe on Wednesday afternoon during a Deaf WinterFest 2023 event that was organized by the US Deaf Ski and Snowboard Association. Whalen was 46 years old.
The USDSSA said in a statement, “With a heavy heart, the official news was shared with us that yesterday, a snowboarder rider Wes Whalen passed away in an accident while snowboarding. Our hearts and thoughts are with his family and friends. We will endeavor to remember him and his love for adventure as we ski and snowboard with safety foremost in our minds.”
According to an ABC 7 article, the incident was at Heavenly Mountain Resort. Whalen was found on an “expert trail” where there were trees around. He was given emergency care but was pronounced dead a short time later. An autopsy took place on Thursday to determine the cause of death.
An official at Heavenly Mountain said they “extend our deepest sympathy and support to our guest’s family and friends.”
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SFGate.com reported that Whalen was found in a “tree well,” which is the ground space below a tree’s branches where the snow is lighter and less compact. The weight of a skier/snowboarder can cause the snow to collapse, creating a well surrounded by denser and higher snow, and climbing out of it can be very difficult.
KCRA News, in an article about this incident, quoted the president of Ski California giving advice to skiers and snowboarders to take extra safety precautions around Lake Tahoe because of the amount of snow the area has received in recent days. The president said people need to make sure they ski and ride with someone and avoid getting close to trees because of the danger of tree wells.
There are many posts on deaf social media mourning Whalen’s passing and giving moving tributes to what kind of person he was. One of these tributes was a vlog by Elvis Zornoza, who grew up with him in Southern California. He explained that Whalen came from a Deaf family, and had some hearing loss, but could hear enough to be a professional interpreter.
https://abc7ny.com/ny-man-dies-heavenly-ski-resort-death-skiers-snow/12908762/
https://www.facebook.com/usdeafskiandsnowboard/
https://www.kcra.com/article/amador-county-2-children-man-killed-in-crash/43169554