Beloved Skier and Aspiring Filmmaker, 23, Dies of Complications from Being Buried in Avalanche
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Credit: Tien Shan Dream
NEED TO KNOW
- Kai Smart died after being buried by an avalanche in Japan, his father John Smart confirmed in an Instagram post
- The skier was 23 and graduated from the University of British Columbia in May 2025
- An aspiring filmmaker, Kai worked on the film Tien Shan Dream, which showed the connection between two remote research stations in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan
A young skier and filmmaker died after being buried in an avalanche in Japan.
Kai Smart's father John Smart confirmed Kai's death in an Instagram post shared on Monday, March 23. He was 23. Kai was transported back to Canada, his home country, via air ambulance on March 19, when he received emergency treatment at Vancouver General Hospital on March 19, per local Canadian outlet Pique Newsmagazine.
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"It is with immense sadness that we have to let you know that our kind, brave and beautiful son and brother Kai is no longer with us," John began the Instagram post. "We are beyond heartbroken and there are no words to describe the pain we are feeling losing him so young."
"Thank you to everyone who has reached out with messages of love and support - we have appreciated every one of them," John continued.
He noted that his son died due to "the severe lack of oxygen he endured during the avalanche," which "had destroyed any chance of recovery." John shared that his son was an organ donor, and that his "heart is still beating in someone else" and his organs are "keeping 4 other people alive."
John described Kai as "a warrior, a mountain man, an explorer of the world, a lover of people of all walks of life, an inspiration to so many, an honour student, a passionate skier, surfer, dirt biker, climber, kitesurfer and so much more..."
"He lived life to the fullest every single day, with joy, curiosity, and intensity, and experienced more in his short time than most do in a lifetime," John's tribute to his son continued. "He truly was a bright light, and his energy—his excitement for life and for learning—touched everyone who knew him."
The family is currently organizing a "Kai-sized celebration of life" to be held in Whistler at a later date.
Olympic skier Gus Kenworthy shared his condolences for the young skier and filmmaker's family. "There are no words. Sending you and your family love," Kenworthy, 34, wrote in the post's comments.
Kai SmartCredit: kai smart/instagram
"So grateful to have known Kai and been touched by his light," another person wrote in the comments.
When John announced that his son was in a life-threatening coma in a March 13 Instagram post, Chelsea Handler also sent her well-wishes. "Sending you so much love and support," Handler, 51, wrote.
A native of Whistler, Canada and a 2025 graduate of the University of British Columbia, Kai had recently completed work on the film Tien Shan Dream, per Pique.
The film, which is available to stream on Apple TV+, Roku and Outside TV, follows "A team of international skiers embark[ing] on a two-week glacier traverse connecting two remote research stations in Kazakhstan," according to a description from Outside.
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"The high-altitude research stations are home to some of the longest-standing glacier and cosmic radiation experiments in the world — and are surrounded by deadly alpine terrain," the description of the film continued.
Kai's father John founded Monument Ski Camps in Whistler, Canada, in 1992, where Kai learned to ski at a young age. PEOPLE has reached out to John for further comment.
Read the original article on People