Snowboarder Ueli Kestenholz, a celebrated athlete who earned a bronze medal for Switzerland at the inaugural Olympic snowboard event in 1998, tragically died after being trapped in an avalanche in the Swiss Alps. The Swiss Ski Federation confirmed his passing on Tuesday, stating that Kestenholz was 50 years old at the time of his death.
The avalanche struck on Sunday in the Lötschental Valley of Valais canton, where Kestenholz was snowboarding with a friend who was skiing. According to a statement from the Valais police, the avalanche initiated at an elevation of approximately 7,900 feet, burying Kestenholz under a significant amount of snow. The cause of the avalanche remains unknown.
Fortunately, his skiing companion survived the incident and was able to assist the Valais Cantonal Rescue Organization in retrieving Kestenholz from the snow. He was subsequently airlifted to a hospital in Visp and later transferred to another facility in Sion, where he succumbed to his injuries.
An investigation into the incident is currently being conducted by the Public Prosecutor’s Office, as reported by the police.
Legacy of a Trailblazer
Kestenholz played a pivotal role in establishing snowboarding as an Olympic sport. His bronze medal finish in giant slalom at the 1998 Nagano Games was a landmark achievement that helped pave the way for future generations of snowboarders. He also participated in the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Games and the 2006 Torino Games before retiring from Olympic competition.
Beyond the Olympics, Kestenholz secured gold medals in snowboard cross at the X Games in both 2003 and 2004. After the 2006 season, he shifted his focus to freeride snowboarding, which emphasizes navigating natural mountain terrain rather than groomed slopes.
In a 2023 interview with Switzerland’s Tages-Anzeiger, Kestenholz expressed his passion for the sport, stating, “Skiing came with obligations; there were training times you had to stick to, marked courses you had to follow. Snowboarding, on the other hand, was pure freedom. On a slope where a skier made twenty turns, I, as a snowboarder, would carve three wide, fast turns and spray snow meters high. I chose how I wanted to ride.”
Kestenholz’s death has reverberated through the snowboarding community and beyond, as tributes pour in for a pioneer whose impact on the sport will not be forgotten. His legacy continues to inspire countless athletes who seek to emulate his spirit of freedom and adventure on the slopes.
