Ski academy rocked by links to ‘multiple’ Lake Tahoe avalanche deaths

Multiple skiers who died in a horrific avalanche near Lake Tahoe were beloved members of a local ski school, the California Post can confirm.

Eight are confirmed dead and one is still missing after the slide wiped out 15 people on Castle Peak, near Truckee, on Tuesday morning. Six were later saved after a mammoth rescue operation.

Sugar Bowl, a popular resort near the site of the tragedy, revealed on Wednesday “multiple” members of its academy had been lost in the snow.

A statement read: “The Sugar Bowl community and the Donner Summit community are grieving the loss of multiple lives in the avalanche at Castle Peak.

“Multiple members of the Sugar Bowl Academy community and others with strong connections to Sugar Bowl, Donner Summit, and the backcountry community died in an avalanche on Tuesday, February 17, 2026.

It continued: “Sugar Bowl Academy is focused on supporting its athletes, students, staff, and families through this tragedy.

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“Most importantly, the Sugar Bowl Academy community will continue to be there in the months and years ahead for the families that have lost loved ones.”

Executive Director Stephen McMahon added: “We are an incredibly close and connected community. This tragedy has affected each and every one of us.

“The depth of support for the families whose lives have been changed forever reminds us of how special this community is.

“The best thing we can do is surround our athletes and families with care and support while providing the necessary space and time for grief and healing.”

Parents connected to Sugar Bowl were reluctant to speak on the tragedy on Wednesday night, as details were slow to emerge.

Kurt Althof, whose son skis in the race program, told Mercury News: “The only comment that I can possibly make is that it’s an absolute tragedy.

“My heart, my family’s heart, goes out to all of those that have been impacted by this.”

Nevada County Sheriff Shannan Moon provided a grim update on the deaths on Wednesday, 24 hours after the avalanche was first reported.

Four travel guides and 11 guests were caught in the avalanche. Among the 15, six had been rescued — one man and five women ages 30 to 55.

Rescuers searching for the final skier are dealing with “highly dangerous” conditions, with more snow expected and an avalanche warning remaining in effect, Moon added.

The community were on Wednesday bracing for the release of the victims’ names, which town council Jan Zabriskie suggested would be soon.