Avalanche in Alps Kill US Ski Team Prospects

An avalanche in Austria claimed the lives of two of America's brightest skiers as they were training for international competition.

Ronnie Berlack, a 20-year-old skier from Franconia, New Hampshire and Bryce Astle, a 19-year-old from Sandy, Utah, were practising with four other skiers in the Austrian Alps when an avalanche hit the skiers. The incident took place near the Rettenbach glacier near Soelden, where the venue for the annual season-opening World Cup races is located. The other four skiers were able to ski out of the massive slide while Berlack and Astle didn't show up above the surface. The skiers were at an altitude of 3,056 meters (about 9850 feet) and had been practicing when they apparently set off the avalanche.

Fox News reports that officials of the Tyrolean region had declared an avalanche alert earlier due to days of heavy snowfall and mild temperatures.

In a statement about the tragedy, U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association President and CEO Tiger Shaw said: "Ronnie and Bryce were both outstanding ski racers who were passionate about their sport- both on the racecourse and skiing the mountain. 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."

The unexpected tragedy seems to have shaken the U.S ski team as well. Fox reported that Patrick Riml, Alpine director of U.S. ski team said, "It is a shock for everybody. Two great boys, great athletes, good skiers. They were fun to have around. We are all in shock, still. It's very tragic."

Berlack and Astle were among the 10 skiers who were in training to potentially race in the top-level World Cup in the future. "These two boys were among the other eight boys who are our future," Riml said and added: "We believed in these guys, that's why we selected them."