I just got news that 6 boys on a USST Development Trip where in an avalanche in Solden Austria, two of them died in the event. Just awful, Prayers go out to those involved. Here is the info. :2 US Ski Team athletes succumb in Soelden avalanche SOELDEN, Austria – The U.S. Ski Team is mourning the loss of two promising development level ski racers killed Monday morning in an avalanche in Soelden. The two were among a group of six athletes freeskiing at the Austrian resort. The other four skied out of the slide and were not injured. Killed in the avalanche were Ronnie Berlack, 20, of Franconia, N.H., and Burke Mountain, Vt., and Bryce Astle, 19, of Sandy, Utah. “Ronnie and Bryce were both outstanding ski racers who were passionate about their sport – both on the race course and skiing the mountain,” said U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association President and CEO Tiger Shaw. “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.” Berlack grew up racing in New Hampshire and had been a student-athlete at Vermont’s Burke Mountain Academy. He was named to the U.S. Ski Team’s Development Team following two top-20 results at the 2013 U.S. Alpine Championships and a spring tryout camp. Astle raced at Snowbird and was invited to train with the development team this season. He had posted strong early season results, including two top-10 NorAm Cup finishes last month in Canada. Information on services is pending. ATHLETE INFORMATION Ronnie Berlack. USST Ronnie Berlack. USST Ronnie Berlack Franconia, NH/Burke Mountain, VT Burke Mountain Academy Birthdate: Apr. 21, 1994 (20) New Hampshire native Ronnie Berlack, 20, earned a spot on the U.S. Ski Team’s Development Team following a spring 2013 tryout camp at Mammoth Mountain. He was a graduate of Vermont’s Burke Mountain Academy. He had finished 11th in downhill and 17th in super G at the 2013 U.S. Alpine Championships in Squaw Valley, Calif.. He was off to a strong season last year before suffering a knee injury in January. He had come back this summer competing in South American Cup races in Chile and in NorAm and FIS races last month in Canada. He also foreran the Beaver Creek men’s World Cup speed races. Bryce Astle at the 2014 Aspen NorAm. GEPA Bryce Astle at the 2014 Aspen NorAm. GEPA Bryce Astle Sandy, UT Snowbird Ski team Birthdate: Jan. 16, 1995 (19) Utah’s Bryce Astle, 19, grew up racing with the Snowbird Ski Team. He was 13th in giant slalom at the U.S. Alpine Championships in Squaw Valley last March, finishing as the top junior. He had been invited to train with the development team this season. He posted strong results in South American Cup races in Chile this summer, and was coming off a pair of top-10 slalom and giant slalom NorAm Cup finishes in Canada last month where he was on the junior podium in all but two events. Release courtesy
Posted on: Mon, 05 Jan 2015 17:04:49 +0000
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