Everest boarding

Question
My climbing partner told me recently that a crazy kid attempted to snowboarded down Mount Everest? Who was he and did he survive?

Answer
Hey Matt,

Your partner is correct.

Here is a copy of an article about the guy who did it.

May 24, 2001 - Marco Siffredi of France made snowboard and Mt. Everest history by becoming the first person to ever descend Mt. Everest on a snowboard. Siffredi has ridden many other extreme slopes, including working his way around the Alps with remarkable first snowboard descents -- sometimes solo. At a mere 22 years of age and only 6 years of riding on his resume, Siffredi is now a leader in the field of extreme snowboarding.

The first ever ski descent of Everest took place in autumn 2000 by Davo Karnicar of Slovenia.

Siffredi rode from the summit at 8848m (29,029ft) to a base camp at 6400m (20,997ft), for a total vertical drop of 2448m (8,032ft). Not bad for an afternoon of riding!

Hope this clears up your question.

There has also been a new record for Everest in the aviation world. They landed a helicopter on the summit in May of 2005. It is considered the highest altitude landing and take-off for any flying machine on earth.

It never ceases to amaze me what people will do for their 15 minutes of fame.

Have a great day,
Windlover