A former ski racing champion at Dartmouth College in New Hampshire, Ellie Curtis tragically passed away on April 5, 2025, following a skiing accident at Palisades Tahoe in California.
She suffered fatal head injuries while skiing on a challenging trail, “Ahhh Chute,” near the KT-22 lift.
Despite the prompt response from ski patrol, Curtis passed away at the scene.
Ellie Curtis Leaves Behind Her Parents, Chach And Kari, Along With Her Sister, Lainey!
Accomplished skier Ellie Curtis was the daughter of Chach and Katherine “Kari” Curtis.
Her father, Chach Curtis, graduated from Dartmouth College and has been leading Pando Group, LLC in Waitsfield, Vermont, since January 2023.
As evident from his LinkedIn bio, earlier, he worked as the Chief Financial Officer at SunCommon for eight years and as the CEO of Draker, Inc. for over five years.
He also worked as the Chief Operating Officer at Creative Microsystems Corporation.
Additionally, after earning an MBA and a BA in Economics from Dartmouth’s Tuck School of Business, he served as CFO and VP of Sales and Business Development at Northern Power Systems.
On the other hand, Ellie’s mother, Kari, is a former representative at the Vermont House of Representatives (2019-2025) and is a consultant.
She also directed the Ecosystem Restoration Program at the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources.
Kari has an impressive educational background, with dual Master’s degrees from UC Berkeley in Energy and Resources and Public Policy.
She also holds a Bachelor’s degree in Ecology, Evolution, and Population Biology from Princeton University.
Moreover, Ellie had a sister named Lainey. On July 6, Lainey married Jake Hager and has since relocated back to Vermont.
While there isn’t much publicly available information about Lainey, she has been described as a loving sibling to Ellie.
Ellie Was The Captain Of The Alpinne Sik Team
She graduated from Dartmouth College, where she pursued a bachelor’s degree in government and environmental studies.
During her time at Dartmouth, she was a standout skier and served as the Alpine Ski Team captain.
During that time, her team earned accolades such as All-America Second Team and All-East Second Team.
Beyond being an extraordinary athlete, she was also recognized for her academic achievements. For three consecutive years, she was named to the USCSCA National Collegiate All-Academic Ski Team.
Before Dartmouth, Ellie attended Green Mountain Valley School, where she excelled in both skiing and soccer.
After graduating, she worked as a public utilities regulatory analyst at the California Public Utilities Commission in San Francisco. She started this role in September 2024.
Ellie was actively involved in skiing up until her tragic passing. She was skiing at Palisades Tahoe in California when the accident occurred.
Her love for the sport was evident as she was skiing with friends on a challenging trail at the time.
Her untimely passing has deeply affected her community and those who knew her.
Dartmouth College described her as:
an exceptional member of the Dartmouth family whose spirit, compassion, and drive left a lasting impression on everyone she encountered.
Our heartfelt condolences go out to Ellie Curtis’s family, friends, and admirers.
Rest In Peace, Beautiful Soul!
