Canadian homicide detectives are investigating whether Victorian skier Jake Kermond fell or was pushed from a cliff into a gravel pit in the ski village of Whistler.

His body was discovered by a dirt biker in an industrial area of the village on June 17.

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The 19-year-old from Harrietville near the Victorian ski fields was last seen about 7.30pm on April 26 when leaving the Adara Hotel in Whistler.

“There was a cliff area, he was found in the gravel pit at the bottom of that area with his body partially covered in the gravel pit,” Sergeant Stephanie Ashton of the Canadian Royal Mounted Police told reporters in Canada.

“We are continuing to work with the coroner to narrow down as much information as we can about when and how and why he ended up there but that’s a difficult task right now.”

The death is being treated as suspicious.

In a statement, Mr Kermond’s family said travelling overseas and working at the Whistler resort had been Jake’s lifetime dream.

“We will miss him every day of our lives. We are devastated by the loss of our son.”

A relative in Victoria said the positive identification had left Jake’s mother and stepfather Natalie and Kevin Raymond “pretty fragile”.

On Facebook, family member Jack Raymond paid tribute to his “brother and homie”.

Jake, who graduated from Bright P-12 College last year, went to Whistler in March and was reported missing by hotel staff on April 30.

Some of his belongings were missing, including his Armada skis.