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SÖLDEN, Austria — Two U.S. Development Team skiers were killed Monday after they were caught in an avalanche while skiing at an Austrian resort.
Bryce Astle, 19, of Sandy, was one of the skiers killed in the avalanche. Astle was an aspiring alpine ski racer who was invited to train with the U.S. Development Team during the 2015 season, according to a United States Ski and Snowboard Association news release. The team was training at a resort in Söelden, Austria, and six members of the team were freeskiing when the avalanche occurred.
Astle and New Hampshire skier, 20-year-old Ronnie Berlack, were killed in the avalanche. The other four athletes were able to ski out of the slide and survived.
“Ronnie and Bryce were both outstanding ski racers who were passionate about their sport — both on the racecourse and skiing the mountain,” said U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association president and CEO Tiger Shaw in a news release. “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.”
Astle grew up racing with the Snowbird Ski Team and took 13th place in giant slalom at the U.S. Alpine Championships in March 2014, finishing as the top junior, according to Tom Kelly, spokesman for the U.S. Ski Team.
"He also, in what we call the NORAM Cup series, up in Canada in December he was on the junior podium in all but two races and had two top 10's against an international field," Kelly said.
As accomplished as Astle was, friends and family in Utah remembered him Monday as a guy who you could approach. He was easy going but intense in his commitment to competitive skiing, his coach and fellow skiers said.
"Bryce was an amazing kid. He was a great skier, passionate about skiing, whether it was ski racing or free skiing, or just jumping off cliffs into shoots," said Steve Bounous, Astle's ski coach at Snowbird.
Fellow skier Devin Davis said Astle was an inspiration to him, calling him "sunshine on a cloudy day."
"I roomed with Bryce at U.S. Nationals, and he showed me the joy of the sport and the love and the passion and made me want to come back ... and keep skiing," Davis said. "It's hard to be out here without him today."
Even with his great achievements he was still a humble young man, according to a Facebook post from his dad which said: "If you take all the good qualities a person can possess and put them into one person, that was Bryce."
Funeral services for Astle have not yet been announced.
Late Monday, Astle's RallyMe page, which helped raise money for his international athletic pursuits, was turned into a memorial fund. Donations* to cover Astle's funeral expenses can be made at ussa.rallyme.com/rallies/845.
Meanwhile, the American Slolem team is preparing for a World Cup race Tuesday in Croatia. The head coach told the Associated Press athletes are planning to wear mourning bands to honor the lives of Berlack and Astle.
Contributing: Devon Dolan
*KSL.com has not verified the accuracy of the information provided with respect to the account nor does ksl.com assure that the monies deposited to the account will be applied for the benefit of the persons named as beneficiaries. If you are considering a deposit to the account you should consult your own advisors and otherwise proceed at your own risk.
