Man found dead at Revelstoke resort a ski instructor

Theskier killed in an accident on the opening dayat the Revelstoke Mountain Resort in southeastern B.C. has been identified asa 24-year-old Edmonton ski instructor.

The family of Tal Hofstra said he and two friends had hoped to be among the first to test the slopes of the new facility.

The three weresupposed to meet at the bottom of Mt. Mackenzie on Saturday and the other two sounded the alarm when Hofstra never arrived.

Search and rescue crews, resort staff and a local heli-skiing company scoured the mountain for the man and were helped on Monday, Christmas Eve,by a police helicopter using thermal imaging.

Searchers finally found his body onTuesday, Christmas morning, in a tree well, not far from where his friends had last seen him.

RCMP said the case has been turned over the B.C. Coroners Service.