Two American ski racers die in Austrian avalanche: USSA
- 9 years ago
The U.S. ski team says they are saddened at the news of two young ski racers killed in an avalanche in the Austrian Alps, Monday.
Skiers with the U.S. development-level ski team, Twenty-year-old Ronnie Berlack and 19-year-old Bryce Astle, were caught by the avalanche while free-skiing in Soelden.
U. S. Alpine Director, Patrick Riml says it's a difficult time for everybody who knew the men.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) U. S. ALPINE DIRECTOR, PATRICK RIML, SAYING:
"Bryce has just started training with us and skiing with us, Ronnie was with us for a couple of years. Two very excited young men, you know, excited about the sport, with a big future. Always happy, and they loved skiing."
An Austrian broadcaster says the young men were not wearing avalanche emergency gear, while sking the mountain with a danger level rated 3 out of 5.
Four other team members skiing with them survived.
Skiers with the U.S. development-level ski team, Twenty-year-old Ronnie Berlack and 19-year-old Bryce Astle, were caught by the avalanche while free-skiing in Soelden.
U. S. Alpine Director, Patrick Riml says it's a difficult time for everybody who knew the men.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) U. S. ALPINE DIRECTOR, PATRICK RIML, SAYING:
"Bryce has just started training with us and skiing with us, Ronnie was with us for a couple of years. Two very excited young men, you know, excited about the sport, with a big future. Always happy, and they loved skiing."
An Austrian broadcaster says the young men were not wearing avalanche emergency gear, while sking the mountain with a danger level rated 3 out of 5.
Four other team members skiing with them survived.