Swiss Olympic Snowboarder Dies in Avalanche

Hediger competed at the 2022 Winter Olympics in China and claimed two World Cup podium finishes in the 2023-24 season.

She was a member of the Swiss national snowboard cross team.

News of the tragedy was announced by the Swiss Ski Federation on Xmas Eve.

The accident happened on Monday at an altitude of 2,203m on a north-east facing slope.

The avalanche risk at the time was 3+ (considerable), on a scale of 5.

It is reported that she was snowboarding with another person around 1.15 pm down a closed slope in Arosa when the pair was caught.

“They left the closed slope and the woman was caught in an avalanche on a slope,” said the local police in a statement.

“Her companion notified the rescue services and went to search for the buried woman.”

She was found two hours later and pronounced dead at the scene.

It followed heavy snowfall and high winds in the area.

“We are speechless, and our thoughts are with Sophie’s family, to whom we express our deepest condolences,” said the Sport chief executive at Swiss-Ski, Walter Reusser.

“For the Swiss-Ski family, the tragic death of Sophie has cast a dark shadow over the Christmas period. We are immensely saddened.”

He added that she lost her life “tragically, brutally and far too soon”.

Sophie Hediger grew up in Horgen, a town about 20 minutes by road from Zurich and spent a lot of time in Arosa.

Her family has asked for privacy and understanding as an investigation is underway.

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