DayFR Euro

Skiing: “A sudden and far too early end…” A young 26-year-old Swiss snowboarder dies in an avalanche

the essential
The Swiss ski federation has announced the death of Sophie Hediger. The young athlete notably won two World Cup podiums and participated in the 2022 Beijing Olympics.

“A dark shadow has fallen over the Christmas period.” This is how Walter Reusser, president of the Swiss ski federation, reacted to the terrible news. This Tuesday, December 24, the body announced via a press release the death of snowboarder Sophie Hediger in an avalanche in Arosa, in eastern Switzerland.

Also read:
Martin Fourcade: “It steals part of my identity”… The contrasting feeling of the biathlete after recovering a new Olympic title

The 26-year-old Swiss was part of the national snowboardcross team and was starting to establish herself in this category. She notably won her first two World Cup podiums during the 2023/2024 season and participated in the 2022 Beijing Olympics.

She was going off-piste

The young woman dreamed of winning a medal at the Engadine World Championships scheduled for March 2025, at home in Switzerland. “In the Swiss-Ski family, we are incredibly sad and we will honor Sophie's memory,” Walter Reusser promised.

Also read:
Alpine skiing: “It’s aesthetic but it’s also practical!” After his big fall, Clément Noël gives news of his heavily affected teeth

AFP reports that this Monday, the cantonal police of Graubünden communicated about the death of a snowboarder, caught in an avalanche while she was off-piste with another person. The identity of the victim was not initially revealed.

As she was preparing to leave a closed slope that she had taken with her companion, Sophie Hediger was swept away by the avalanche. Emergency services found her two hours later but were never able to resuscitate her. “A tragic, sudden and far too early end”, as Swiss-Ski regretted.

-

Related News :