Industry News
Legendary telemark skier Kasha Rigby died in an avalanche in Brezovicë, Kosovo, on Tuesday, February 13, 2024. The American skier was skiing with her fiancé, Magnus Wolfe Murray, when the Vermont native was swept away by a small avalanche. While the avalanche was only about 25 meters by 10 meters (82 feet by x 33 feet) in size, it swept her at high speed into trees, causing catastrophic injuries.
Rigby was considered one of the best female telemark skiers in the world and had featured in several movies from Warren Miller, Scott Gaffney, and North Face. The 54-year-old skier has achieved many first descents on telemark skis on some of the world’s largest peaks.
Conditions on that fateful afternoon were challenging, with strong winds and poor visibility. The avalanche started at the cornice and led to a high-force collision with trees, crushing her between the avalanche and the trees. Despite the swift response of her finacé, who reached her within 20 seconds and found her between two trees, and attempted resuscitation with CPR, Kasha’s injuries were too severe, and she died almost immediately.
In her last Instagram post, Rigby described the conditions at Brezovicë with: “Sideways rain, a big melt, and winds too high to run lifts, doesn’t keep these skiers and sledders off the t-bar and slope. While seeking winter our #tourdepiste continues, running the fringes of resorts. We have had a few chances to poke around up high, but today we were back in the lower country. Still just happy to be in the snow.”
Her account has since been flooded with an outpouring of love and grief at the passing of one of the most incredible athletes extreme skiing has ever seen.
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Her passion for skiing and adventurous spirit touched the lives of many, and her memory and legend will live on. If you would like to contribute to keeping her memory alive, her family and friends would appreciate donations to the Kasha Rigby Memorial Fund.
