Overview
- The 50-year-old was caught and buried on Sunday, Jan. 11, on the eastern slope of Hockuchriz in the Lötschental valley at roughly 2,400 meters.
- He was riding with a friend who escaped, dug him out, and alerted rescuers from the Valais Cantonal Rescue Organization, which responded with three Air Zermatt helicopters.
- Kestenholz was airlifted first to a hospital in Visp and then to Sion, where he died despite medical treatment.
- The Swiss Ski Federation confirmed his death on Jan. 13 and offered condolences, noting he leaves a wife and two children.
- A pioneering figure in the sport, Kestenholz won bronze in the parallel giant slalom at the 1998 Nagano Olympics, earned two X-Games snowboardcross titles, and remained active in high-risk outdoor pursuits after retiring from competition.