Wanaka police
confirmed yesterday American snowboarder Danny Kass has been
charged with endangering public safety after an incident this
week at the Cardrona skifield.
Kass (26), who will appear in the Queenstown District Court
on Monday, allegedly drove his van up the main McDougalls
trail about 9.30am on Monday, The Mountain Scene reported
yesterday.
Kass has a high profile in the United States, winning
back-to-back silver medals in the snowboard halfpipe at the
2002 and 2006 Olympic Games.
He has been staying in Wanaka this month and competed in the
New Zealand Snowboard Open last week, finishing ninth in the
slopestyle and 31st in the halfpipe event.
Kass has not yet been included in the US team for the Winter
Games snowboarding events at Cardrona next week.
Cardrona field manager Gary Husband told the Otago Daily
Times Kass had not been served with a trespass notice, but
said "he won't be back" at the skifield.
He declined to comment further.
Constable Mike Johnston, of Wanaka, said Kass had spoken to
Cardrona staff about having his conspicuously-painted van
towed to the halfpipe for a promotional photo shoot, The
Mountain Scene reported.
Kass allegedly drove the vehicle up a crowded main trail.
The vehicle got stuck and, because snow conditions were soft,
it could have rolled over and slid down the skifield, Const
Johnston said.
US Ski and Snowboard Association communications manager Tom
Kelly could not be contacted yesterday.
Bookmark/Search this post with:
A name, residential address, and (preferably residential) telephone number is required from readers who comment on ODT Online. These details will not be visible to site visitors.