News Desk
ISLAMABAD/NAGANO, JAPAN: Kyle Smaine, former US world champion freestyle skier, died in an avalanche in Japan on Sunday, his family has confirmed.
Smaine was one of the two skiers killed after getting caught in the avalanche on the east slope of Mount Hakuba Norikura in Japan on Sunday.
His father, William Smaine, confirmed to the media on Monday that his son had died in the incident.
The 31-year-old was in Japan on a marketing trip for Ikon Pass and Nagano Tourism.
Caught in the avalanche
Japanese officials confirmed that five men from the US and Austria had been caught in the avalanche, but three safely made it down the mountain.
Friends, family, and fans paid rich tribute to Smaine on his Instagram page.
His wife Jenna Dramise wrote in a post on Instagram: “Dear husband and my whole world officially married November 18, 2022, which not many people knew about. I’m incredibly thankful, I got to marry you and have you in my life.
“You loved skiing more than anyone I’ve ever met. I know you had the best runs in your life out there in Japan, and I could never blame you for doing what you loved. I can’t wait to see you again.”
In an Instagram post, the US Freeski team said, “Kyle Smaine was a World Champion freeskier, loved exploring the mountains, was a fierce competitor but an even better person and friend.”
Another American skier Adam U was one of the five men caught in the avalanche and was buried 1.5m deep for almost 25 minutes before being rescued.
The authorities had issued an avalanche warning amid heavy snowfall and record-cold temperatures in the area.
2015 Halfpipe World Champion
Smaine won the gold medal in the 2015 World Championships in ski halfpipe, a year after the sport was added to the Olympics.
The last major contest in which he participated was a World Cup in Mammoth Mountain, California, which he won in January 2018.
