CARRABASSETT VALLEY – The death of a teenage boy at Sugarloaf on Saturday marked the first time a Carrabassett Valley Academy student has died while skiing.

The 16-year-old son of a Sugarloaf ski resort employee was killed when he skied into an object off the side of a trail designated as black diamond — the symbol used to denote the most rigorous slopes.

Ethan Austin, communications manager at Sugarloaf, declined to release the boy’s name Sunday, citing patient confidentiality regulations.

Carrabassett Valley Police Chief Scott Nichols could not be reached for comment.

“It is with deep regret that we confirm that a CVA student has died in a skiing accident,” John Ritzo, headmaster of Carrabassett Valley Academy, announced in a written statement Sunday. “Our hearts go out to the student’s family at this time of profound grief.”

The private ski and snowboard school, which opened in 1982, is located at the base of Sugarloaf Mountain and has trained 11 Olympians, including Seth Wescott, who has won two Olympic snowboardcross gold medals.

Although the student was skiing on his own time and was not participating in a designated academy training or competition, it was the first time a student has been killed while skiing, Ritzo said.

The academy, with about 116 students, 14 teaching faculty and 20 coaching faculty, is offering around-the-clock grief counseling for students, faculty and staff.

The young skier was wearing a helmet when he struck the object along Hayburner trail, one of the most difficult slopes on the mountain.

Sugarloaf Ski Patrol members responded and transported the boy to Sugarloaf’s first aid clinic while performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation, according to Sugarloaf. Paramedics from Northstar Ambulance continued CPR at the clinic, where he was pronounced dead.

Austin said Sunday it’s still unclear what object the boy struck.

“That’s part of the ongoing investigation,” he said. “There’s a little bit of uncertainty regarding that.”