We are sad to report that two rising stars on the US ski team have been killed in an avalanche while training in Austria. In a statement issued on Monday, January 5th, the U.S. Ski team announced the deaths of Ronnie Berlack, 20 (Franconia, NH and Burke Mountain, VT) and Bryce Astle, 19 (Sandy, UT). Four other skiers, who were training with the pair at the time of the avalanche, made it to safety.
“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-20s at the 2013 U.S. Alpine Championships and a spring tryout camp.
Read the full story: Ski in Peace: Ronnie Berlack and Bryce Astle
