Ueli Kestenholz, a trailblazing Swiss snowboarder who won a bronze medal at the inaugural Olympic snowboard competition in 1998, tragically lost his life in an avalanche in the Swiss Alps. The Swiss Ski Federation confirmed his death on Tuesday, stating that Kestenholz was 50 years old.
The avalanche took place on October 22, 2023, in the Lötschental Valley, located in the Valais canton. At the time, Kestenholz was snowboarding with a friend who was skiing. According to a statement from the Valais police, the avalanche struck at an altitude of approximately 7,900 feet, burying Kestenholz beneath the snow.
While his companion survived the incident, he played a critical role in rescuing Kestenholz, assisting the Valais Cantonal Rescue Organization in locating and freeing him from the snow. After the rescue, Kestenholz was airlifted to a hospital in Visp and subsequently transferred to another facility in Sion, where he was pronounced dead. The Valais Public Prosecutor’s Office is currently investigating the circumstances surrounding the avalanche.
A Pioneering Career in Snowboarding
Kestenholz made history at the 1998 Nagano Olympics by winning a bronze medal in the giant slalom, helping to establish snowboarding as an official Olympic sport. He went on to compete in the 2002 Winter Games in Salt Lake City and again in the 2006 Winter Games in Torino before retiring from Olympic competition.
In addition to his Olympic achievements, Kestenholz secured gold medals in snowboard cross at the 2003 and 2004 X Games, further solidifying his status as a prominent figure in the sport. Following his Olympic career, he shifted his focus to freeride snowboarding, a discipline that emphasizes exploration of natural terrains rather than manicured trails.
Reflecting on his transition, Kestenholz explained to Switzerland’s Tages-Anzeiger in 2023, “Skiing came with obligations; there were training times you had to stick to, marked courses you had to follow. Snowboarding, on the other hand, was pure freedom. On a slope where a skier made twenty turns, I, as a snowboarder, would carve three wide, fast turns and spray snow meters high. I chose how I wanted to ride.”
His passion for snowboarding and the freedom it provided resonated with many fans and aspiring athletes alike. The snowboarding community mourns the loss of a true pioneer whose contributions to the sport have left an indelible mark.
