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Snowboarding Pioneer Ueli Kestenholz Dies in Avalanche

1/13/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Ueli Kestenholz, a 50-year-old snowboarder, died January 13 after an avalanche buried him in the Lötschental valley.
He was snowboarding with a friend who survived and helped rescue him.
He was airlifted to a hospital and succumbed to his injuries.
The avalanche's cause remains unknown and is under investigation by the Public Prosecutor’s Office.
Kestenholz was a pioneer in Olympic snowboarding, earning bronze at the 1998 Nagano Games.

History

Historical Context

The 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan, from February 7 to 22, marked snowboarding's Olympic debut, featuring 125 athletes across four events. Swiss Ueli Kestenholz won bronze, contributing to the sport's growing popularity, which attracted over 2,000 competitors. Tragically, Kestenholz later died in an avalanche, raising awareness about winter sports safety and prompting discussions on improved avalanche protocols.

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Story summary

Ueli Kestenholz, a 50-year-old snowboarder, died January 13 after an avalanche buried him in the Lötschental valley.
He was snowboarding with a friend who survived and helped rescue him.
He was airlifted to a hospital and succumbed to his injuries.
The avalanche's cause remains unknown and is under investigation by the Public Prosecutor’s Office.
Kestenholz was a pioneer in Olympic snowboarding, earning bronze at the 1998 Nagano Games.

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