The athlete who died in an avalanche in Nagano, Japan, on Sunday was a former Austrian freeride master and filmmaker. He lived in Innsbruck. “Ski, travel, enjoy life” was the life motto of the 30-year-old Salzburg native, who came to Innsbruck to study and has lived in the Tyrolean capital since 2012.
The freerider used to compete in competitions and became an Austrian Freeride Master in 2016. A year later he won the second title. This pushed the competition ambitions into the background, the Tyrolean by choice wanted above all to have fun on the mountain, as he once emphasized in an interview. Various projects were in the foreground.
Active in film projects, academies and the like
He co-founded the Freeride Academy Innsbruck. As can be read on the homepage, in the non-profit organization he tried to pass on the wealth of experience and knowledge that had grown over the years to the next generation. The 30-year-old also carried out freeride film projects and, among other things, staged the “Freeride Nights” scene in Innsbruck.
It is not unusual that the passionate freerider moved to Japan in January of all places to pursue his passion there. “The snow conditions in Japan are generally very good around this time,” says a snowboarder from Innsbruck in an interview with “Krone”. “Many Tyroleans travel there, I’ve been to Japan myself.”
Carried away by a piece of snow
On Sunday, as reported, the 30-year-old Innsbrucker’s passion turned fatal in Nagano. A patch of snow caught him, American freestyler and former world champion Kyle Smain and a third skier. Unfortunately, all help came too late for the Tyrolean and the American.
Particularly tragic: in the Freeride Academy, he imparted knowledge about the various alpine dangers.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
