Celebrating the Life of Chris Kastner: 1961 – 2022

Lifelong instructor and former PSIA-AASI National Team member (2000-04, 2004-08) Chris Kastner passed away Saturday, November 5, peacefully at his home.

Chris worked at Mt. Hood Meadows in the ‘80s as a race coach and instructor before working at Aspen (Colorado), Schweitzer (Idaho), and Crystal Mountain (Washington), where he was the Director of Skiing and Snowboarding. He returned to Mt. Hood Meadows in 2005, serving as the Director of the Ski & Snowboard School and Director of Resort Services.

Mt. Hood Meadows Vice President of Operations Jeremy Riss said, “Chris had an exceptional passion for snowsports, and he shared that passion with many team members and guests. He helped mentor many of us, myself included, to grow as people and leaders.”

Some of Chris’s accomplishments at Mt. Hood Meadows include:

• Starting the 5th grade ski free program which provides an opportunity for every 5th grader in Hood River County to take a school field trip to Mt. Hood Meadows.
• Instilling teamwork and cooperation between departments leading to the formation of the Snowsports Services Department to improve the team and guest experience.
• Ensuring quality control for the Sahale Lodge construction project which was successfully completed on schedule.

“What stands out most of all is Chris’s kindness, positivity, and how much he cared about and enjoyed the people he worked with,” said Jeremy. “Chris made Meadows a fun place to work and play for many of us, and he will be deeply missed.”

A celebration of life is planned for Monday, November 28 (Chris’s birthday) at the Hood River Best Western in the Columbia Room from 5:30 p.m. to around 8 p.m. You can learn more about the event on this Facebook page, which includes suggestions on additional ways to celebrate Chris’s memory. Learn more here.