Stratton Matteson, 28, a former resident of Richmond, Vt., died in an avalanche on February 24, 2026, while snowboarding in a remote area of southwest British Columbia. He was well known in the world of “split boarding” and beyond for his commitment to a strong environmental ethic, as well as for his passion and talent as a rider.
Stratton was born in Eugene, Ore. At age 5 he moved to Richmond with his family and attended schools in the Chittenden East district until age 17. He learned to snowboard at age 9 at Bolton Valley Ski Area. He moved to Bend, Ore., for his final year of high school, and in the Pacific Northwest his love of carving turns and exploring wild alpine terrain fully blossomed. He credited his Vermont roots and early experiences snowboarding on ice, crust and sparse snow with his ability and willingness to ride a wide range of conditions. He also had a joyous attitude toward any amount of snow he could find and famously took every opportunity for one more turn.
Because of his concern about the impact of climate change on the mountains and sport he loved, Stratton made a decision in 2019 to eschew fossil fuel-based transportation to access the places he rode. He made two films and countless videos and social media posts documenting both the beauty of surfing mountains and his “bike-to-board” lifestyle. For five years, Stratton went car-free, and seeing him pedaling up to trailheads in all manner of weather, split board strapped to his bike, was a common occurrence in central Oregon. Despite his numerous sponsorships, avid social media following, and growing acclaim as a split boarder of exceptional grace, grit and endurance, Stratton remained a humble rider with a boundless sense of humor and positive outlook. In the summer months, he operated a bike-based native plant landscaping business and utilized permaculture principles in his landscape designs. He was also a lifelong skateboarder and, in the last couple of years, had taken up surfing.
Stratton is deeply loved and missed by his parents, George Wuerthner and Malia (Mollie) Matteson; his sister, Summer Wuerthner; and the love of his life, Madeline Wettig, all of Bend. He is also survived by his stepfather, Kevin Cross, of South Burlington, Vt. Stratton made a profound impact, as well, on his numerous friends and adventure buddies; many have said that what touched them most was his generous and welcoming heart.
A celebration of life will be held in Bend in early June. His family is also establishing a memorial fund to carry forward Stratton’s Earth-centered vision through projects such as an educational native plant garden and the promotion of safe bike access to backcountry recreation areas. More information and updates can be found at the “Stratton Matteson Legacy” Instagram page.