TRIBUTES CONTINUE FOR ELLIE SOUTTER
26th July 2018 | Jane Peel, Chief Reporter
Last modified on February 3rd, 2026
The snowboarder took her own life on her 18th birthday. Tributes have been pouring in from across the snowsports world.
Ellie was one of the country’s best up-and-coming snowboarders and was tipped for a place at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics.
She competed in both snowboard cross and freeride.
She was a bronze medallist in snowboard cross at the 2017 European Youth Olympic Winter Festival in Erzurum, Turkey.
It was Team GB’s only medal of the event and she carried the flag at the closing ceremony of the Games.
Her father Tony Soutter posted the news on Facebook:
It said there was no obvious sign she was suffering from depression or other problems.
Hundreds of messages of condolence have been posted on Tony Soutter’s Facebook page.
Few details about the circumstances of her death last Wednesday have been released.
When the news was announced by British Ski and Snowboard, BSS, it gave details of how to contact The Samaritans.
Ellie Soutter spent the 2017/18 season competing on the Freeride Junior Tour.
She was due to return to snowboard cross competition next month after being selected in the British team for the Junior World Championships in New Zealand.
Ellie was an inaugural member of the British Europa Cup snowboard cross programme which commenced earlier this year.
“The thoughts and condolences of the British Ski & Snowboard community are with Ellie’s family, friends and teammates,” said British Ski and Snowboard.
The British Olympic Association said it was saddened to hear of her death.
“Ellie was an incredibly popular and well-liked member of the team,” said BOA Chair Hugh Robertson and BOA Athlete Commission Chair Ben Hawes.
“Our thoughts are with her family and friends at this sad time.”
Soutter’s bronze at the Youth Olympic Winter Festival in Turkey last year was celebrated by Team GB with the Twitter message: “Tears of joy and snow stuffed down her back.”
Speaking after her event, she said: “I cried as I crossed the line. I was just so emotional as it hasn’t been the best season for me and it’s finally on the way up.
“I even asked my coach to put snow down my back when I was in the start gate. It helps wake me up so I don’t feel all floppy like a jellyfish.
“I just hope this isn’t the last medal I win for Team GB. My goal is to compete at Beijing 2022.”
Soutter grew up in Oxted, Surrey, before moving to the Alps, where she trained.
Ellie Soutter at the Freeride Juniors in Andorra and Verbier:
At the Andorran stage of the Freeride Juniors in March this year, there weren’t enough girls so Ellie Soutter competed with the boys.
In the photos below she’s on the ‘mixed’ podium (scroll through the Instagram post).
At the time Ellie commented, the “Lack of girls meant me competing with the guys this weekend, turned out pretty well 🥈@vallnord is a good time”
Wearing Bib Number 52 Ellie Soutter competes in the Freeride Junior Verbier 3* 2018.
