Sophie Hediger, a member of the Switzerland national snowboard cross team, died in an avalanche at the mountain resort of Arosa in the east of the country, the Swiss-Ski federation announced on Tuesday.
The 26-year-old grew up in Horgen and spent a lot of time in Arosa. Her life there, freeriding, a beloved hobby, came to a tragic, sudden, and far too early end.
“For the Swiss Ski family, the tragic death of Sophie Hediger has cast a dark shadow over the Christmas holidays. We are immeasurably sad. We will keep an honorable memory of Sophie,” Walter Reusser, CEO Sport at Swiss-Ski.
Hediger achieved her first two World Cup podium places in the 2023/24 season. She came second in the World Cup dress rehearsal in St. Moritz; winning a medal at the home World Championships in Engadin next March was one of her sporting dreams.
She was able to fulfill another by taking part in the 2022 Olympics in China.
The Swiss-ski federation said that it would keep further details about her death private.