American competitive skier and telemark skiing pioneer Katherine “Kasha” Rigby died Tuesday in an avalanche in Albania. She was 54 years old.
Rigby was at a ski center in Brezovica, Kosovo, with her fiancé, Magnus Wolff Murray, when a small avalanche pushed her off the trail and into the trees at around 2:30 p.m. local time. According to Ski Magazine.
The newspaper reported that Wolfe contacted his fiancée 20 seconds after the impact and immediately attempted CPR to save her.
Rigby suffered internal bleeding and lung damage in the collision, and died shortly after being swept away.
Local officials said Rigby fell from the top of the runway, causing a deadly avalanche.
Officials said the avalanche was about 82 feet wide and 32 feet high.
The Kosovo Mountain Search and Rescue Agency announced that it had received a request for help in the Eagle’s Nest area, which is at high risk for avalanches. euronews.albania report.
“The initial information was that two skiers had died in the fog. However, after gathering information, the problem was identified and a search of the suspicious area began,” the service said. he wrote on social media on Tuesday.
Before his death, Rigby posted a photo from the ski slope and warned of strong winds.
“Due to pouring rain, heavy snowmelt, and winds too strong for the lifts, skiers and sledders were unable to stay far from the T-bars and slopes,” the veteran skier wrote on his Instagram on the day of his death. He revealed this in his last post on the gram. , with photos of the harsh conditions.
“The Tour de Piste continues in search of winter, running around the resort. I had a few chances to peek into the high places, but today I returned to the lowlands again. Still in the snow. I’m just happy.”
The Vermont-born skier was in Kosovo participating in the Tour de Piste. The project is made up of expert skiers who ski down uncharted ski slopes in popular locations.
According to Ski Magazine, Rigby is credited with changing the face of telemark skiing and redefining the sport “with his fast, hard-driving style.”
In telemark skiing, skiers push with their front foot while balancing on their back foot to perform carving turns on downhill skis with toe-only bindings.
she was named outside magazineIn 1996, he was named the “best telemark skier in the known universe.”
Rigby became the first telemark skier to climb and descend Choyu, the sixth highest mountain in the world in the Himalayas.
She was also a cast member of National Geographic’s “Ultimate Survival Alaska” show during season 3 in 2015.
Tributes poured in from all over the place. Social media After the news of her death broke.
“Kasha, your light shines so brightly that many of us have been lucky enough to share some of your wild, unbridled energy. Be your true self, unlike anyone else. Thank you for being there,” fellow skier Jim Morrison wrote.
“I can forever hear your voice and see your smile. Dancing and living to the beat of a different beautiful drum is what we all wish to hear ” National Geographic photographer Jimmy Chin commented on Rigby’s last Instagram post.
“Thank you for sharing so much joy and wisdom with all of us.”
