Two US ski team racers killed in an avalanche

[kalle.]

so the news is that ronnie berlack (20) and bryce astle (19) were killed in an avalanche in sölden. there was a group of six freeskiing, and the rest four of the group were unharmed.

it's always sad to see avalanches take another victim, but these guys had a life and a career ahead. the good die young.

thought and prayers are with their families and close ones.

source:

http://alpine.usskiteam.com/news/ski-peace-ronnie-berlack-and-bryce-astle

 

[Gr0mo]

Saw this earlier. Very sad.

 

[Mingg]

SIP dudes):

 

[Peter.]

way too young to die. SIP

 

[ilikefood]

Ronnie Berlack beat me in a race by 15 seconds when I was 13. Never knew him, but it's crazy to think about someone that I used to race against leaving so soon. Very tragic.

 

[PacificRimJob]

Just heard about this. Awful news. I have mutual friends of these guys who are devastated right now.. whenever this happens it kills me...

 

[animeallstar]

too many skiers been dying

 

[Turd.Ferguson]

that's horrible because these two were so young.

 

[Hackster]

Aweful news.

According to local sources they were buried more than 3 meters (=10 ft.), making avi gear they did not have pretty much obsolete anyway. It took the rescuers 40-50 min to find and dig them out and they were already dead.

Pictures of the accident site here

http://lawinenwarndienst.blogspot.co.at/2015/01/kurze-unfallanalysen-zu-den-letzten.html

They triggered the avy themselves and were swept down approx. 1000 ft. into what seems to be a small

terrain trap while 4 others escaped unharmed. Not the first slide that area had seen in the past. On an interesting note the local avy commission changed the danger level from 3 to 4 today - which seems appropriate given the current conditions.

 

[little_boo]

Grew up skiing with Bryce and his family. Makes me sick thinking about this, absolutely awful. Ski in peace boys

 

[Petey.]

Ronnie Berlack beat me in a race by 15 seconds when I was 13. Never knew him, but it's crazy to think about someone that I used to race against leaving so soon. Very tragic.

The kid was a truly gifted skier. He was a few years younger than me, but we were in Boy Scouts together, and had great times at summer camp. Ronnie was a pretty crazy kid but he was happy and had a good heart.

Ski in peace buddy

 

[Stumpa]

Sad stuff. I've seen some pretty hairy Avalanches at European ski areas.

 

[Skates_skis]

Hate hearing news like this. But at least they died doing what they loved. SIP

 

[Ian.D]

Aweful news.

According to local sources they were buried more than 3 meters (=10 ft.), making avi gear they did not have pretty much obsolete anyway. It took the rescuers 40-50 min to find and dig them out and they were already dead.

Pictures of the accident site here

http://lawinenwarndienst.blogspot.co.at/2015/01/kurze-unfallanalysen-zu-den-letzten.html

They triggered the avy themselves and were swept down approx. 1000 ft. into what seems to be a small

terrain trap while 4 others escaped unharmed. Not the first slide that area had seen in the past. On an interesting note the local avy commission changed the danger level from 3 to 4 today - which seems appropriate given the current conditions.

Wow thats a gnarly terrain trap! Pretty much worst case scenario there, the whole slide funneling down into one small gully/river bed. Good lesson for everyone out there, RIP

 

[Dobber]

If you are going to die early... it is best to die while doing something you love.