Local skier Kyle Smaine killed in avalanche in Japan
Submitted by paula on Sun, 01/29/2023 - 7:20pm
South Lake Tahoe professional skier Kyle Smaine died Sunday after being overtaken by an avalanche in Japan, according to the Mountain Gazette. The 31-year-old had been skiing while on a marketing trip for Ikon Pass and Nagano Tourism when the avalanche occurred Sunday afternoon, Japan local time, the Mountain Gazette said.
Smaine, Mountain Gazette Senior Photographer Grant Gunderson, and Glacier, Washington-based pro skier Adam Ü were sharing a free ski, and on the last run of the day, Ü said. They had run into a group of Austrian skiers according to the Mountain Gazette, with Gunderson heading back to the resort. They said as Smaine and Ü were at the bottom, switching their backcountry geet into an uphill mode when one Austrian joined them. According to Ü, a second Austrian triggered a slide and the three at the bottom heard it crack and ran. Ü was buried in about five feet of snow and rescuers dug him out. He had no injuries and was able to boot pack out.
Japan Times said the avalanche occurred at around 2:30 p.m. Japan local time in backcountry terrain outside of the Tsugaike Mountain Resort in the village of Otari. It occurred on the eastern slope of 2,469-meter Mt. Hakuba Norikura near the border with Niigata Prefecture. The region has had several days of heavy snowfall.
An Austrian skier died along with Smaine, according to the Mountain Gazette.
The Southern China Morning Post said a total of five people were caught up in the avalanche, with three able to escape.
Japanese news only reported the avalanche and no deaths, and that search teams were going into the area Monday morning, local time.
Smaine a 2009 graduate of South Tahoe High, was honored in South Lake Tahoe's Champion Plaza in 2017 for his skiing on the national and international stage.
Smaine won gold at 2015 World Championships and was first alternate for Team USA in 2018 Olympics. He was a legend at his home resort of Sierra-at-Tahoe and the XGames honored him with a tribute. 2023 X Games Gold Medalist David Wise of Reno paid tribute to Smaine as he accepted his medal Sunday in Aspen.
"We all did this for Kyle tonight," said Wise Sunday. "I'm glad I could take one home for him."
Social media has been full of shock, dismay and thousands of tributes as the news spread quickly across Lake Tahoe and the ski world.