The Swiss snowboarding community and the wider world of winter sports are in mourning following the tragic death of Olympic bronze medallist Ueli Kestenholz. The 50-year-old athlete lost his life after being caught in an avalanche in the Swiss Alps, as confirmed by the Swiss ski federation on Tuesday.
A Career Forged on Snow and Adrenaline
Kestenholz secured his place in sporting history by winning a bronze medal in the giant slalom at the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics. This event was snowboarding's thrilling debut on the Olympic stage, a games famously marked by Canadian gold medallist Ross Rebagliati's fight to retain his title after a positive cannabis test.
His competitive career was long and decorated. He represented Switzerland at two additional Winter Games and claimed the snowboardcross championship title twice at the prestigious X-Games. Even after retiring from formal competition in 2006, Kestenholz remained a formidable force in professional extreme sports, embodying the spirit of a true crossover athlete.
The Fatal Avalanche in Lötschental Valley
The fatal incident occurred on Sunday in the Lötschental valley within Switzerland's Valais canton. Kestenholz was snowboarding with a friend who was skiing at the time. According to a statement from Valais police, the avalanche was triggered at an altitude of approximately 2400 metres for reasons still under investigation.
Despite immediate efforts from his companion to dig him out, Kestenholz was seriously injured. He was airlifted by helicopter to hospital, first in Visp and then to Sion, near the resort of Crans-Montana. His death was later reported by the Swiss daily Berner Zeitung before being officially acknowledged by Swiss-Ski, the national governing body.
Tributes for a 'True Crossover Athlete'
Swiss-Ski paid heartfelt tribute to Kestenholz, noting his name continued to resonate deeply within the sport two decades after his elite career ended. In a moving statement, they described a man whose passion for the mountains knew no bounds.
"Ueli didn't just love snowboarding in all its facets," the federation wrote. "After retiring from competitive sports in 2006, he remained a professional outdoor athlete — right up to his last breath. He was a freerider, speedrider, paraglider pilot, kitesurfer, skydiver, surfer, wingfoiler, mountain biker — a true crossover athlete."
They poignantly referenced the headline on his personal website: "Life is too short for just one sport." The statement concluded, "His life was far too short. Swiss-Ski and the snowboard community are devastated."
Kestenholz's vibrant spirit was evident in his recent social media posts, which included footage of him paragliding and landing on frozen lakes near St. Moritz. In one caption, he captured his philosophy perfectly: "To enjoy those rare moments when nature's wonders align you need to be ready to drop everything and go!"
The champion snowboarder is survived by his two children and other family members. The investigation into the exact cause of the avalanche continues.
