The U.S. ski team says they are saddened at the news of two young ski racers killed in an avalanche in the Austrian Alps, Monday.
Skiers with the U.S. development-level ski team, Twenty-year-old Ronnie Berlack and 19-year-old Bryce Astle, were caught by the avalanche while free-skiing in Soelden.
U. S. Alpine Director, Patrick Riml says it's a difficult time for everybody who knew the men.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) U. S. ALPINE DIRECTOR, PATRICK RIML, SAYING:
"Bryce has just started training with us and skiing with us, Ronnie was with us for a couple of years. Two very excited young men, you know, excited about the sport, with a big future. Always happy, and they loved skiing."
An Austrian broadcaster says the young men were not wearing avalanche emergency gear, while sking the mountain with a danger level rated 3 out of 5.
Four other team members skiing with them survived.
