BY JEFFREY WEIDEL
Two promising development-level ski racers on the U.S. Ski Team were killed Monday in an avalanche in Soelden, Austria. Killed in the avalanche were Ronnie Berlack, 20 (Franconia, NH) and Bryce Astle, 19 (Sandy, UT).
The two were among a group of six athletes freeskiing at the Austrian resort. The other four skied out of the slide.
Berlack, 20, a New Hampshire native, earned a spot on the U.S. Ski Team’s Development Team following a spring 2013 tryout camp at Mammoth Mountain. He had been a student at Vermont’s Burke Mountain Academy.
Berlack finished 11th in downhill and 17th in super G at the 2013 U.S. Alpine Championships in Squaw Valley. He was off to a strong season last year before suffering a knee injury last January. He had come back, competing in South American Cup races in Chile this summer and in NorAm and FIS races last month in Canada.
Astle, 19, grew up racing with the Snowbird Ski Team in Utah. He was 13th in giant slalom at the U.S. Alpine Championships in Squaw Valley last March, finishing as the top junior. He had been invited to train with the development team this season.
Astle posted strong results in South American Cup races in Chile this summer, and was coming off a pair of top-10 slalom and giant slalom NorAm Cup finishes in Canada last month, where he was on the junior podium in all but two events.
“Ronnie and Bryce were both outstanding ski racers who were passionate about their sport – both on the race course and skiing the mountain,” said U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association President and CEO Tiger Shaw. “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.”
Berlack grew up racing in New Hampshire and had been a student-athlete at Vermont’s Burke Mountain Academy. He was named to the U.S. Ski Team’s Development Team following two top-20s at the 2013 U.S. Alpine Championships and a spring tryout camp.
Astle raced at Snowbird and was invited to train with the development team trip this season. He had posted strong early season results, including two top-10 NorAm Cup races last month in Canada.
Jeffrey Weidel can be reached at skiweidel@gmail.com. Enjoy this winter website – www.tahoeskiworld.com
