Death of a snowboarder in the Alps brings to mind avalanche danger: NPR

Sophie Hediger takes 2nd place at the FIS Snowboard Cross World Cup men’s and women’s snowboard cross on January 26, 2024 in St. Moritz, Switzerland.

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The death of a Swiss Olympic snowboarder this week is a reminder that even the most skilled and experienced athletes are not immune to the dangers posed by the rapid flow of snow from the slopes, according to an avalanche forecaster.

Professional snowboarder Sophie Hediger died in an avalanche while snowboarding in her native Switzerland on Monday. The 26-year-old took part in the 2022 Olympic Games in Beijing as part of the Swiss national team and was a well-known figure in the international snowboard racing circuit.

“The tragic death of Sophie Hediger has cast a dark shadow over the Christmas holidays. We are incredibly sad,” said Walter Reusser, CEO of Swiss-Ski, the Swiss ski association, in an online statement published on Tuesday.

The incident that led to Hediger’s death occurred as she and a companion went snowboarding in the town of Arosa in the Swiss Alps, local police said in an online statement. The couple was apparently skiing down a closed slope when Hediger was swept away by an avalanche, police said.

Hediger’s companion was able to call the emergency services and after hours of searching, Hediger was found buried under the snow. Paramedics were unable to revive her and she was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.

Russia’s Kristina Paul (left), Switzerland’s Sophie Hediger (center) and Great Britain’s Charlotte Bankes compete in the snowboard mixed team cross small final during the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics at Genting Snow Park P&X on February 12, 2022 Stadium in Zhangjiakou.

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An average of 27 people have died each year over the past 10 U.S. winters, according to an analysis by the Colorado Avalanche Information Center.

Greg Gagne, forecaster at the Utah Avalanche Center, says knowledge is the key to protecting yourself from dangers on the slopes.

“I think when people assume that someone is an experienced professional athlete in snow sports – yes, they are, absolutely. But that doesn’t necessarily mean they have the skills necessary to assess and travel to avalanche terrain.”

The US Forest Service distinguishes three general types of avalanches: sluffs, wet avalanches, and slab avalanches. According to the Forest Service, slab avalanches, which occur when a wide layer of compacted snow slides down a slope, are responsible for the majority of fatalities.

Gagne says that in the vast majority of avalanche accidents, the avalanche was triggered by the victim or someone in their group. He says the best way to stay safe in general is to stick to slopes that have been cleared by ski areas.

“The ski areas and resorts typically control the work with explosives and try to trigger avalanches before the public has access to the terrain,” says Gagne. “Once they are sure there is no longer any avalanche danger, the public can go into the area. But as soon as you leave the boundaries of the ski area, you’re in the backcountry.”

However, if someone chooses to ski or snowboard in remote areas that have not been cleared by resorts, Gagne says it is important to be equipped with appropriate rescue kits that include the necessary tools to locate, rescue, and To provide help an avalanche.

“It would be like home insurance or car insurance. It’s something you have to complete that you never hope to use. The same goes for avalanche rescue equipment: everyone needs it and you hope you never have to use it,” he says.