Mitchell Hokanson was a 26-year-old professional snowboarder and Olympic medalist from Salt Lake City, Utah, who died in an avalanche on November 12, 2023. He was a talented and fearless snowboarder, who competed in various events such as halfpipe, slopestyle and big air. He was also a charismatic and generous person, who inspired and supported many people with his passion, his creativity and his spirit in the snowboarding community and beyond.
Who was Mitchell Hokanson?
Mitchell Hokanson was born on December 10, 1997, in Salt Lake City, Utah. He was the youngest of three children of Michael and Heather Hokanson, who were both doctors. He had an older brother, Matthew, and an older sister, Melissa. He grew up in a loving and supportive family, who encouraged him to pursue his hobbies and interests.
Mitchell Hokanson had a passion for snowboarding since he was a little boy. He got his first snowboard when he was four years old and he never stopped riding. He practiced and improved his skills every day, at the local ski resort, at the backyard, at the school, and at the park. He participated in many snowboarding competitions and events, such as the USASA, the Revolution Tour, the Grand Prix and the Dew Tour.
Mitchell Hokanson was one of the most successful and respected snowboarders in the world. He won several medals and trophies in his snowboarding career, such as the gold medal in the halfpipe at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, the silver medal in the slopestyle at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, and the bronze medal in the big air at the 2023 FIS Snowboard World Championships in Aspen. He was also sponsored and endorsed by many brands and companies, such as Burton, Oakley, Red Bull, GoPro, etc. He earned millions of dollars from his prize money, bonuses and incentives from his snowboarding career.
Mitchell Hokanson was also a YouTube star, who had over 5 million subscribers and over 500 million views on his channel. He started his channel in 2016, when he was 19 years old, and he uploaded his first video, titled “My First Double Cork”. He then uploaded many other videos, such as “Snowboarding with Shaun White”, “Epic Snowboarding Fails”, “How to Do a 1080”, “Snowboarding Around the World”, etc. He also made vlogs, where he shared his personal life, his travels, his friends, his family, his hobbies, etc. He also collaborated with other famous YouTubers, such as Casey Neistat, David Dobrik, Liza Koshy, etc. He was a funny and charismatic person, who made his fans laugh and smile with his jokes, his pranks, his challenges and his reactions. He was also a generous and humble person, who gave back to his fans and his community, such as by doing giveaways, donating to charities, visiting schools and hospitals, etc.
Mitchell Hokanson was more than just a snowboarder and a YouTuber. He was also a son, a brother, a friend and a role model. He loved his family and his friends, who supported and loved him back. He was also a role model and an inspiration to many young and aspiring snowboarders and YouTubers, who admired his skills, his personality and his achievements.
How did Mitchell Hokanson die?
Mitchell Hokanson died in a tragic avalanche on November 12, 2023. He was filming a video for his YouTube channel, where he was attempting to do a triple cork over a 50-foot jump in the backcountry of Colorado. He landed the trick, but he triggered an avalanche that buried him under the snow. He was wearing a helmet, a beacon, a probe and a shovel, but it was not enough to save him. He was found by his friend and cameraman, Jake Wilson, who was with him at the time of the accident, but he was already dead. The video of his accident was uploaded to his YouTube channel by his friend and cameraman, Jake Wilson, who was with him at the time of the accident. The video was titled “Mitchell Hokanson: Rest in Peace, Brother”.
Mitchell Hokanson’s death shocked and saddened his family, friends, fans and the entire snowboarding and YouTube community. Many people expressed their grief and condolences on social media and in the media. A candlelight vigil was held in his honor at the Park City Mountain Resort in Utah on November 14, 2023, where thousands of people gathered to pay their respects and honor his memory. A memorial service was held at the Salt Lake City Temple on November 17, 2023, where his family and close friends shared their memories and stories of him. He was cremated and his ashes were scattered at his favorite snow spots.
Mitchell Hokanson’s death also raised awareness and concern about the safety and regulation of snowboarding. Many people called for more safety measures, such as better helmets, beacons, probes and shovels, avalanche training and education, and backcountry access and rescue. Some also suggested that snowboarding should be more regulated and standardized, such as having a unified governing body, a common set of rules and a consistent testing and inspection process.
Mitchell Hokanson’s family and friends urged people to remember him for his achievements, his personality and his impact. They also encouraged people to donate to the Mitchell Hokanson Foundation, a foundation that supports his passion, his causes and his legacy.
FAQ
Q: What is the cause of Mitchell Hokanson’s death?
A: Mitchell Hokanson died in an avalanche on November 12, 2023. He was attempting to do a triple cork over a 50-foot jump in the backcountry of Colorado, when he triggered an avalanche that buried him under the snow.
Q: How old was Mitchell Hokanson when he died?
A: Mitchell Hokanson was 26 years old when he died.
Q: What was Mitchell Hokanson’s occupation?
A: Mitchell Hokanson was a professional snowboarder and a YouTube star. He won several medals and trophies in his snowboarding career and had over 5 million subscribers and over 500 million views on his YouTube channel.
Q: Who is Mitchell Hokanson’s family?
A: Mitchell Hokanson’s family consists of his parents, Michael and Heather Hokanson, who are both doctors, his older brother, Matthew, who is a dentist, and his older sister, Melissa, who is a nurse.
Q: How can I help Mitchell Hokanson’s family and friends?
A: You can help Mitchell Hokanson’s family and friends by sending them your condolences, prayers and support. You can also donate to the Mitchell Hokanson Foundation, a foundation that supports his passion, his causes and his legacy.