Avalanche in Alps kills two young U.S. Ski Team prospects

Two prospects from the U.S. Ski Team were killed in an avalanche Monday while skiing near their European training base in the Austrian Alps.

The team said Ronnie Berlack, 20, and Bryce Astle, 19, died in the incident near the Rettenbach glacier in the mountains over Soelden.

Berlack, from Franconia, New Hampshire, and Astle, from Sandy, Utah, were part of a group of six skiers who were descending from the 3,056-meter Gaislachkogel when they left the prepared slope and apparently set off the avalanche. The other four skied out of the slide and were unhurt.

Officials in the region said an avalanche alert had been declared for the area after days of heavy snowfall and mild temperatures.

“Ronnie and Bryce were both outstanding ski racers who were passionate about their sport both on the race course and skiing the mountain,” U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association president and CEO Tiger Shaw said. “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.”

U.S. athletes were free to decide whether or not to race in tonight’s World Cup event in Zagreb, Croatia, and the team would wear mourning bands.