A snowboarding buddy pictured, Blake Smith, the snowboarder who died at China Peak Friday afternoon.

Smith, 36, of Fresno, was named as the victim of a snowboarding accident, by the Fresno County coroner.

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Smith was snowboarding with friends around noon away from prepared ski runs when he fell head-first into about 5 feet of fresh snow and suffocated when he couldn’t free himself, said Tim Cohee, China Peak’s managing partner and general manager. source

The resort had reopened just hours earlier on Friday after weeks of being shut down due to a lack of snow.

China Peak is located at 59265 Highway 168, LakeShore, CA 93634.

Our thoughts are with the family and friends at this difficult time.