Wyoming Officials Tried to Help Rescue Jackson Skier Max Martin in Japan – but Time Ran out

The original story by Jasmine Hall for Jackson Hole News&Guide.

Wyoming officials spent the weekend trying to help from half a world away after learning that a well-known Jackson skier was in serious trouble in Japan. Despite those efforts, they were unable to secure additional rescue support in time.

Max Martin, a 32-year-old professional skier and beloved member of the Jackson Hole community, died following a ski accident in Hakuba, Japan. The Jackson Hole News&Guide has not confirmed exactly how the accident occurred, and details remain limited.

What is clear is that once word reached Teton County, local leaders moved quickly.

According to the News&Guide, Teton County Sheriff Matt Carr and Wyoming’s US senators attempted to help free up Japanese rescue resources overnight. Their goal was to assist with the response after learning Martin was injured in the backcountry. Those efforts, however, were unsuccessful.

Information about the accident itself is still murky.

A Japanese news outlet reported Sunday that police were investigating an incident involving an American backcountry skier near Mount Kotomi in Japan’s northern Alps. SnowBrains later shared the report, identifying the skier as Martin.

The Japanese article said Martin was part of a group of four skiing Saturday when he fell and became unable to move. The other three skiers were able to descend safely, according to that report.

The same article said the local fire department received a rescue request involving someone who had fallen near or under a “waterfall.” It’s unclear whether that wording is a precise translation. The News&Guide relied on Google Translate to read the original Japanese text, and some details may have been lost or mistranslated. Japanese police are continuing to investigate.

Martin was widely known in Jackson Hole as a talented skier and a deeply respected community member. News of his death has sent shockwaves through the tight-knit mountain town, with friends and fellow skiers sharing memories and condolences across social media.

While Wyoming officials were unable to change the outcome, the attempts to intervene underscore how deeply Martin was valued back home – and how quickly local leaders rallied when they learned one of their own was in danger thousands of miles away.