Former world figure skating champion Kyle Smein died in an avalanche in Japan On Sunday, his family confirmed.
The 31-year-old, who won the World Halfpipe title in 2015, had flown to Japan from his home in Lake Tahoe, California, on business where, according to his Instagram post, he was looking forward to the “incredible snow.” Quality”.
On Sunday, he was among a group of Austrian and American skiers who were caught in an avalanche on Mount Hakuba Norikura in Nagano Prefecture. Three of the skiers eventually managed to make their way down the mountain, but Smaine and another man, yet to be identified, were later found dead according to local police. The Japanese authorities issued an avalanche warning in the area after heavy snowfall.
An American snowboarder who was buried for 25 minutes before rescuers pulled him out, In the Mountain Gazette: “We heard the crack. We realized: ‘It’s a big one.’ We started running and then we got hit.”
The US Embassy in Tokyo said it was “aware of the incident in Nagano Prefecture and is in contact with relevant authorities to provide all appropriate assistance.”
Smaine had retired from international competition and his last high-level event was in February 2018. Fellow athletes paid tribute to him on Sunday.
“We all did this for Kyle tonight,” David Wise, a two-time Olympic halfpipe ski champion, said Sunday, after winning the X Games. “It’s a little emotional day for us. We’ve lost a friend.”
Smaine’s wife, Gina Drames, wrote on Instagram that “Tonight I wish I could ride with you on some of the pows or bikes in my dreams.”
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