WASHINGTON, January 6 (Sputnik) — Promising US Ski Team racers Ronnie Berlack and Bryce Astle have died in an avalanche in Soelden, Austria, the US Ski and Snowboard Association (USSA) said.
“The US Ski Team is mourning the loss of two promising development-level ski racers killed Monday in an avalanche in Soelden,” the USSA said in a press statement Monday.
Berlack (20) and Astle (19) were among six athletes skiing at the Austrian resort, the other four managed to escape the slide, according to the USSA.
“Ronnie and Bryce were both outstanding ski racers who were passionate about their sport – both on the race course and skiing the mountain,” US Ski and Snowboard Association President and CEO Tiger Shaw was quoted as saying in the statement.
“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,” Shaw added.
Berlack was named to the US Ski Team’s Development Team in 2013 following US Alpine Championships.
Astle was invited to train with the development team trip this season and showed strong early season results, including two top-10 NorAm Cup races last December in Canada.
