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CALGARY – A snowboarder who died after crashing into a tree at Sunshine Village Ski Resort on Monday has been identified as Banff resident Martin Desrosiers.

Desrosiers, 32, was originally from Montreal, Que. according to a Facebook profile in his name, where friends shared their condolences. He worked as a manager at Skoki’s Waffle and Frozen Yogurt restaurant in Banff.

Sunshine Village spokesperson Crosbie Cotton said the man was snowboarding on Banff Ave Trail, a beginner’s run section, when he hit a tree Monday late afternoon.

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“It was at the end of the day, and it had been snowing, so you could see where the snowboard track went directly on a collision course into a tree, resulting in his death,” said Cotton.

STARS air ambulance was dispatched to Banff, but was called down when Desrosiers died just after 5 p.m. Cotton said there was “nothing that could be done.”

Our thoughts and prayers are with the friends and family of the Banff local who suffered a fatal head injury while riding down the skiing. — Sunshine Village (@SunshineVillage) March 24, 2015

Cotton would not comment on whether Desrosiers was wearing a helmet at the time of the accident, but said trail conditions were not an issue.

“It wasn’t an issue of conditions,” he said. “Although the investigation is underway, until we have everything reviewed and everybody interviewed, it’s pre-mature to say what happened. Conditions were quite good.”

Martin Desrosiers: great guy + experienced boarder say Banff friends after fatal Sunshine crash @GlobalCalgary #yyc pic.twitter.com/RHRNKmZDFc — Gary Bobrovitz (@garybtvnews) March 24, 2015

Sunshine Village is located about 140 kilometres west of Calgary.

With files from Gary Bobrovitz and Kristy Peterson

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