Halfpipe world champion Kyle Smaine killed in avalanche in Hakuba

[thomas]

Kyle Smaine, a former halfpipe world champion skier, and an unidentified Austrian national died in an avalanche in Hakuba, Nagano Prefecture on Sunday, his family have confirmed.

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The 31-year-old, who won the halfpipe world title in 2015, had travelled to Japan from his home in Lake Tahoe, California, on a work trip where, according to an Instagram post, he was looking forward to the "unbelievable snow quality". On Sunday, he was among a group of Austrian and American skiers caught up in the avalanche on Nagano prefecture's Mount Hakuba Norikura. Three of the skiers were eventually able to make their way down the mountain but Smaine and another man, who has yet to be identified, were later found dead according to local police. Japanese authorities had issued an avalanche warning for the area after heavy snow. One of the American skiers, who was buried for 25 minutes before being dug out by rescuers, told Mountain Gazette: "We heard the crack. We realized: 'It is a big one.' We started running and then we got hit."

Former halfpipe world champion Kyle Smaine killed in avalanche at age of 31

Kyle Smaine, a former halfpipe world champion skier, died in an avalanche in Japan on Sunday, his family have confirmed

www.theguardian.com

Beloved South Lake Tahoe Skier Kyle Smaine Killed in Avalanche in Japa

Written by Mike Rogge It is with great sadness we report beloved South Lake Tahoe Professional Skier Kyle Smaine has died in an avalanche in Japan. Smaine, 31, was skiing on a marketing trip for Ikon Pass and Nagano Tourism. Mountain Gazette Senior Photographer Grant Gunderson, the photographer...

mountaingazette.com

 

[Majestic]

Subtext of some Japanese commentators is that they feel some anger towards these guys as their reckless skiing and disregard for the posted safety notices puts their Japanese rescuers at great risk. (Or so I hear from Mrs. Majestic). I feel sympathy for these skiiers, but there is always this reaction in Japan that one doesn't quite expect; "how dare they die and cause trouble".

 

[mdchachi]

Subtext of some Japanese commentators is that they feel some anger towards these guys as their reckless skiing and disregard for the posted safety notices puts their Japanese rescuers at great risk. (Or so I hear from Mrs. Majestic). I feel sympathy for these skiiers, but there is always this reaction in Japan that one doesn't quite expect; "how dare they die and cause trouble".

Yeah dying like that is some serious 迷惑. But is it more 迷惑 than jumping in front of a rush hour train totally disrupting tens of thousands of commuters?

 

[thomas]

It starts at a much lower level, like getting sick or taking a "long vacation" (of more than two days). I felt really guilty disturbing the 'wa' when I had my last serious bicycle accident.

As tragic as this accident was, it looks like there was some negligence on the skiers' part.

 

[mdchachi]

It's a bit late now but they should have carried avalanche life vests if they were planning to go off trail.

 

[nice gaijin]

wow, that's tragic the mountains can claim anyone...

I was just skiing alone in Tahoe yesterday, it's been a record season here... I was at a resort but I like to ski that exact kind of terrain in his instagram video, more pine and fir here... we've probably been on the same runs. I was somewhere in Killebrew canyon and I ended up hugging the ski boundary above a pretty steep drop into an untouched valley. I remember wondering what the avalanche potential was, as this area was quite steep. All an avalanche needs is an unstable snowpack at a steep enough angle and a triggering event. I had to get my steps in to rejoin the trail, and at times I felt perched over a treacherous drop I knew I couldn't climb out of without skins. My phone had died an hour ago from the cold.

I got my cardio in for sure that day, I appreciate it all the more now.

 

[thomas]

 

[Grandpa Frank]

This weekend in Maine is going to be so cold , the ski resorts are going to close for a day or two. With the high winds and low temps , it will feel like -40 below.

I pity all the homeless people living in tents.