"AvalancheOlympicsUeli Kestenholz , a Swiss snowboarder who helped usher the sport onto the Olympic stage, died Sunday after being caught in an avalanche in the Swiss Alps. He was 50. According to Swiss Ski Federation , Kestenholz was snowboarding in the Lötschental Valley in the canton of Valais when the avalanche occurred. Valais police said the slide released at an elevation of approximately 7,900 feet (2,400 meters). The cause of the avalanche has not yet been determined."
"Kestenholz became part of Olympic history at the 1998 Winter Olympics , when snowboarding debuted as an official Olympic sport. At just 22 years old, he won bronze in the parallel giant slalom, the first snowboard medal event ever contested at the Games. He went on to compete in two additional Winter Olympics, earned two X Games snowboardcross titles, and remained a prominent figure in action sports long after stepping away from formal competition."
Ueli Kestenholz, 50, was caught in an avalanche while snowboarding in the Lötschental Valley in the canton of Valais and later died in a hospital. Valais police said the slide released at about 7,900 feet (2,400 meters). His companion located and dug him out before emergency responders arrived; both were airlifted to a hospital, where Kestenholz later died. Kestenholz won bronze in the parallel giant slalom at the 1998 Winter Olympics, the first Olympic snowboard medal event, and competed in two more Olympics. He earned two X Games snowboardcross titles and remained active in freeriding and many mountain and adventure sports.
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