U.S. Ski Team members killed

[toast21602]

not good. not good at all.

 

http://unofficialnetworks.com/2015/01/2-us-ski-team-athletes-killed-by-avalanche-in-austria

 

 

Two US Ski Team ski racers were killed this morning in an avalanche in Solden, Austria.

Killed in the avalanche were Ronnie Berlack, 20, of Franconia, N.H., and Burke Mountain, Vt., and Bryce Astle, 19, of Sandy, Utah.

The two promising development level ski racers were among a group of six athletes freeskiing at the Austrian resort. The other four skied out of the slide and were not injured.

“Ronnie and Bryce were both outstanding ski racers who were passionate about their sport – both on the race course and skiing the mountain,” said U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association President and CEO Tiger Shaw. “Our hearts go out to the Berlack and Astle families, as well as to their extended sport family. Both of them loved what they did and conveyed that to those around them.”

Information on services is pending.

ATHLETE INFORMATION

Ronnie Berlack

Franconia, NH/Burke Mountain, VTRonnie Berlack
Burke Mountain Academy

Birthdate: Apr. 21, 1994 (20)

New Hampshire native Ronnie Berlack, 20, earned a spot on the U.S. Ski Team’s Development Team following a spring 2013 tryout camp at Mammoth Mountain. He was a graduate of Vermont’s Burke Mountain Academy. He had finished 11^th in downhill and 17^th in super G at the 2013 U.S. Alpine Championships in Squaw Valley, Calif.. He was off to a strong season last year before suffering a knee injury in January. He had come back this summer competing in South American Cup races in Chile and in NorAm and FIS races last month in Canada. He also foreran the Beaver Creek men’s World Cup speed races.

Bryce Astle

Sandy, UT

Snowbird Ski team

Birthdate: Jan. 16, 1995 (19)

Utah’s Bryce Astle, 19, grew up racing with the Snowbird Ski Team. He was 13^th in giant slalom at the U.S. Alpine Championships in Squaw Valley last March, finishing as the top junior. He had been invited to train with the development team this season. He posted strong results in South American Cup races in Chile this summer, and was coming off a pair of top-10 slalom and giant slalom NorAm Cup finishes in Canada last month where he was on the junior podium in all but two events.

Release courtesy of USSA

[Johnny Law]

Sad.....no beacons, left Gaislachkogel and went towards Rettenbachtal, considerable avy danger.......bad decisions were made......

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

That is sad. I don't know who those people are as I haven't watched ski racing since the Bode days. Are beacons common inbounds in Europe??

[moe ghoul]

Sad story, I saw this on the little TV monitor in the elevator yesterday.

[Justo8484]

That is sad. I don't know who those people are as I haven't watched ski racing since the Bode days. Are beacons common inbounds in Europe??

the concept of in bounds vs out of bounds is a bit different in Europe. The only stuff that really gets avy work is anything that will impact groomers, from my understanding. Since what they skied wouldn't run out to a groomer if it slid, it got no avy work, even though it isn't what we'd consider 'out of bounds' here. The debris pile was 3-4 meters deep, I dunno how much a beacon would have helped if they were buried under 12 feet of compacted snow, sadly. Just a shitty, freak accident.

[Johnny Law]

the concept of in bounds vs out of bounds is a bit different in Europe. The only stuff that really gets avy work is anything that will impact groomers, from my understanding. Since what they skied wouldn't run out to a groomer if it slid, it got no avy work, even though it isn't what we'd consider 'out of bounds' here. The debris pile was 3-4 meters deep, I dunno how much a beacon would have helped if they were buried under 12 feet of compacted snow, sadly. Just a shitty, freak accident.

 

If you look at the picture it's pretty clear beacon=body recovery....