Swiss snowboard champion Sophie Hediger dies after being caught in an avalanche

Swiss snowboarder Sophie Hediger, who has two World Cup podiums and had competed in the 2022 Olympics, died in an avalanche on Monday in Arosa, in eastern Switzerland, the Swiss Ski Federation said on Tuesday, December 24.

The young woman, who was a member of the national snowboardcross team, had just celebrated her 26th birthday on December 14.

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She had obtained her first two World Cup podiums last winter, with her best result being a 2nd place in St-Moritz in January 2024 during the dress rehearsal for the 2025 World Championships, recalled the Swiss Federation (Swiss-Ski). She also took part in the Beijing Olympics in 2022.

“For the Swiss-Ski family, a dark shadow has fallen over the Christmas period with the tragic death of Sophie Hediger. We are incredibly sad. We will honour Sophie's memory”, promised Walter Reusser, the boss of Swiss-Ski, in a press release.

Resuscitation attempts failed

On Monday, the cantonal police of Grisons announced the death of a snowboarder in an avalanche while she was off-piste skiing with another person. But she had not communicated the identity of the victim.

The young woman and her companion took a closed slope and it was as they were leaving it that Sophie Hediger was caught in an avalanche.

The emergency services were immediately notified, but the snowboarder could not be located until two hours later. Attempts to resuscitate her on the spot failed, the police said, and they have opened an investigation.

The risk of avalanches is currently very high in Switzerland, as there has been heavy snowfall for several days.