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Snowboarder dies in hotel accident

The snowboard fraternity lost another one of its brothers this week. On Feb. 23, at approximately 3:15 a.m., Jeffrey Anderson of Mammoth Lakes, California, fell while sitting and sliding down the rail of a spiral hotel staircase in Nagano.

The snowboard fraternity lost another one of its brothers this week.

On Feb. 23, at approximately 3:15 a.m., Jeffrey Anderson of Mammoth Lakes, California, fell while sitting and sliding down the rail of a spiral hotel staircase in Nagano. The 23-year-old Burton pro-rider was in Japan for the World Cup halfpipe competitions this weekend.

According to the Nagano police, Anderson started to slide on the fifth floor and lost his balance at about the fourth floor, falling more than 15 metres to the first floor. He was taken to the hospital, but was pronounced dead on arrival as a result of a head injury.

Although Anderson was still young, he had already been a sponsored rider for 12 years. He was also a talented artist who planned to focus on his art career when his snowboard career finally wrapped up – and he wasn’t planning to wrap it up any time soon.

Although his riding has been featured in videos and magazine spreads, he didn’t hit his stride on the competitive circuit until the last few years with strong results in halfpipe and slopestyle events.

His specialty was hitting rails, although he was also known as a pretty solid jumper.

In a Transworld Snowboarding interview, Anderson’s last, interviewer Joel Muzzey wrote: "Jeff Anderson is snowboarding. Jeff Anderson is snowboarding: True Mammoth local. First-generation grom. Child of the ’80s. Skateboarder. Student of life. Malcontent. Devoted friend. Rock 'n' roller. Handrail destroyer. Regular-footer. Younger brother. Late sleeper. Artist. Binding modifier. Mountain man. Autograph signer. Victim of technology. Aerialist. Prodigal son. Huge in Japan. Burton-cut survivor. Happy Hour standout. Brutally honest. Hyperactive. Powder slasher. Board designer. Genuine. Homeowner. Purist. Style-conscious. Skinny. Decent golfer. Stepson. World traveler. Stranger. Mitten wearer. Nocturnal. Underrated. Snowmobiler. Edge de-tuner. Minimalist. Painter. Maniacal. Cereal eater. David Bowie fan. Part hippie. Courteous. Hometown sensation. Frequent flier. Doodler. Enthusiastic. Impatient. Easily distracted. Season-pass holder. Internationally recognized. Down for life. Ready to go."

Anderson’s death comes on the heels of the death of snowboard icon Craig Kelly, 36, who died in an avalanche on Jan. 24.