Overview
- The Swiss Ski Federation confirmed Tuesday that Ueli Kestenholz, 50, died after being buried in an avalanche in the Lötschental valley of Valais.
- He was snowboarding with a skiing companion when the slide struck at roughly 2,400 meters, and the friend dug him out before rescuers arrived.
- The Valais Cantonal Rescue Organization, supported by three Air Zermatt helicopters, airlifted him first to Visp and then to Sion, where he later died.
- Authorities say the trigger of the avalanche is unknown and the incident is under official investigation.
- Kestenholz won bronze in snowboarding’s Olympic debut at Nagano in 1998, competed at the 2002 and 2006 Games, captured two X-Games snowboardcross titles, remained active in extreme sports, and is survived by two children.