Media Statements

Sugar Bowl Academy loses respected, valued, and loved members of its community

The Sugar Bowl community and the Donner Summit community are grieving the loss of multiple lives in the avalanche at Castle Peak on Tuesday

February 18, 2026
Norden, CA – 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. Nevada County, Placer County, the State of California, and Washoe County in the State of Nevada responded to the emergency through their mutual aid system and were able to rescue six survivors of the avalanche. These emergency responders are still working to recover all of the victims and are not at this time sharing the personal details of the victims and the survivors out of respect for the families affected. Sugar Bowl Academy is similarly not sharing the names of the victims and survivors out of respect for the families affected.

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

“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”, said Executive Director Stephen McMahon. “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”, McMahon added.

Sugar Bowl Academy (SBA) is a fully accredited private independent school and gold-certified U.S. Ski and Snowboard club. The school is uniquely situated at 6,900 feet on Donner Summit at Sugar Bowl Resort, with both day and boarding school programs for grades 6 through 12 as well as athletic programs for ages 5 through 20. Student-athletes are offered world-class athletics and college preparatory academics in one place, all while celebrating grit, grace, and courage. Learn more at sbacademy.org.