At roughly 1:00 pm PST on March 24th, 2025 a fatal avalanche occurred in the mountains East of Kootenay Lake, British Columbia, tragically taking the life of Jeff Keenan, 44, along with 2 others, renowned photographer and longtime snowboarding industry luminary Alex Pashley, 45, and Jason Remple, 53, a widely respected patron of BC backcountry pursuits and the owner/lead guide of Kaslo, BC based Stellar Heli Skiing. Another member of this group, who is being reported at this time as a 40-year-old resident of Nelson, BC, survived the avalanche with serious injuries and is currently in critical condition at a nearby hospital.
Jeff Keenan was a beloved husband, father, brother, son, and friend whose jovial nature, unparalleled work ethic and earnest approach to fostering snowboarding culture, be it as a pro rider, prolific cinematographer, or respected company owner, leaves a solemn void in the greater shred community.
In the early 2000’s Jeff forged a reputation in front of the camera with notable segments in Canadian cult classics by Skids and Sandbox while riding for several sponsors including Invasion Snowboards, Option Snowboards, and Grenade Gloves. The next chapter of Keenan’s career saw him partnering with close friend and fellow up-and-coming BC rider Sean Genovese to launch the avant-garde independent brand Dinosaurs Will Die. To this day Dino’s continues to provide a witty, thought provoking, authentic alternative to the snowboarding establishment.
Perhaps Keenan’s greatest impact came when he was behind the camera. For nearly two decades, Jeff edited, filmed, directed, and produced dozens of snowboarding projects while collaborating with Runway Films, Standard Films, Skids, Sandbox, Nike, ArcTeryx, Monster, Dakine, Full Moon, Whistler/Blackcomb and more.
For everyone close to Jeff, his laughter, mischievous smiles, wry humor, calming nature, and welcomed insights wrought from a deep well of experience and uncanny intuition, will be missed most. Those who didn’t know Jeff personally, were most certainly impacted by his creative endeavors and prolific output, both directly, as well as through the iconic riders and creators he collaborated with and elevated.
Alongside those of Alex Pashley and Jason Rample, Jeff’s family and friends are engrained in our thoughts, particularly his widow Leanne and their son Khyber. Just as the loss of Jeff will be eternally felt with remorse and sorrow, his legacy will be ever present within everyone he inspired.