Olympic Snowboarding Medalist Killed in Avalanche 

Ueli Kestenholz, who won a bronze medal in the first snowboarding event in Olympic history while representing Switzerland at the 1998 Winter Olympics, died over the weekend after being caught in an avalanche in the Valais Alps. He was 50.

According to reports, Kestenholz was traveling with a friend, who was skiing, in the Lötschental Valley when tragedy struck Sunday afternoon. The duo were caught in an unexpected avalanche.

“The skier was able to get himself to safety,” Valais Cantonal Police said in a news release, via PEOPLE. “As for the snowboarder, he was buried and was freed by his colleague and the Valais Cantonal Rescue Organization (OCVS), with the support of three Air Zermatt helicopters.”

Kestenholz was airlifted to a local hospital and later transferred to another facility before succumbing to his injuries.

Kestenholz remembered as a 'pioneer'

A two-time snowboarding world champion and gold medal winner at the Winter X-Games, Kestenholz took home bronze in the giant slalom at the 1998 Olympics in Nagano, the sport's first-ever Olympic event.

"Ueli was a versatile snowboarder, indeed more than that: a true crossover athlete. In his competitive career, after participating in the 1998 and 2002 Olympics in alpine snowboarding, he was also among the pioneers at the Olympic premiere of snowboard cross in Turin in 2006," the Swiss Ski Federation said in an article announcing Kestenholz's death.

Kestenholz retired from competitive sports in 2006, but continued to be an outdoor athlete as a freerider, speedrider, paraglider pilot, kitesurfer, skydiver, surfer, wingfoiler and mountain biker.

"We extend our deepest condolences to Ueli's family and loved ones," said Swiss Ski President Peter Barandun.