Another tragedy on the ski slopes. The young athlete of the Swiss national snowboard team Sophie Hediger died on Wednesday 18 December, struck by an avalanche in the Arosa area, in eastern Switzerland. The news was confirmed by the Swiss-Ski federation, which expressed its deep condolences. Hediger, who had just turned 26 on December 14, was a promising snowboard cross, a discipline in which he had achieved two podiums in the World Cup last season and had represented Switzerland at the 2022 Beijing Olympics.
The accident and the risk of avalanches
According to initial reconstructions, Sophie Hediger was practicing off-piste with a companion when she was hit by an avalanche. The couple had taken a closed slope and, during the descent, the snowboarder was hit by the snow mass. Despite the immediate intervention of the emergency services, the young woman's body was located only after two hours. Resuscitation efforts on site were in vain.
The Grisons cantonal police, who opened an investigation into the incident, underlined that the risk of avalanches in that period was very high due to the heavy snowfall of the previous days.
A promising career shattered
Sophie Hediger was considered one of the emerging talents of snowboard cross. Last winter she achieved her first two podiums in the World Cup, including a brilliant second place in St. Moritz, which projected her among the protagonists of the discipline. He had also won two bronze medals at the Junior World Championships: one in 2016 in Rogla in the team competition and the other in 2018 in Cardrona in the individual competition.
The condolences of the federation and the sports community
The Swiss federation Swiss-Ski expressed its sorrow for Sophie's loss in a statement: “A tragic shadow has fallen on our community during this Christmas period. We will always remember Sophie for her passion and dedication to the sport.” Walter Reusser, sports director of Swiss-Ski, added: “We are speechless. Our thoughts go to Sophie's family and friends, to whom we offer our deepest condolences.”
In agreement with the young athlete's family and partner, Swiss-Ski has decided not to disclose further details on the matter.
