Industry News
Italian World Cup speed skier Jean Daniel Pession and his girlfriend, Elisa Arlian, have been killed while backcountry skiing in Italy’s Aosta Valley. The Italian Winter Sports Federation announced the news yesterday in an official statement.
The fatal incident occurred while they were touring above Champoluc in the Aosta Valley region. Pession, 28, and Arlian, 27, were traversing a ridge dividing the east and north faces of Monte Zerbion when the tragic accident occurred. Later reports indicated that the pair had ‘obvious fall injuries.’ It is believed they fell around 2,200 feet, but the cause is still under investigation.
Champoluc is the largest resort in the Monterosa area. It offers great glacier views, uncrowded slopes, and fabulous off-piste skiing.
Rescue efforts were initiated after the couple failed to return as expected. Tragically, their bodies were located along the mountain’s north face by a Guardia di Finanza helicopter crew equipped with cell phone signal detection technology. A doctor aboard the rescue helicopter pronounced them deceased at the scene.
Pession was a rising star on the World Cup speed skiing circuit. During his blossoming career, the Valle d’Aosta native achieved impressive results, including a 15th-place finish in the 2021 World Cup final standings and a 22nd-place finish at the 2022 World Championships in Vars, France. Arlian was a cross-country ski instructor.
Flavio Roda, President of the Italian Winter Sports Federation, expressed profound sadness over the tragic loss. “This is a terrible tragedy for the world of winter sports, especially speed skiing,” Roda stated. “On behalf of the entire Federation, I extend our deepest condolences to the Pession family during this unimaginable time of grief.”
The circumstances and causes of their deaths are not yet known. As the investigation continues, the skiing community mourns the untimely passing of one of its brightest young talents and his partner. The tragic incident serves as a reminder of the inherent risks in mountain pursuits, even for seasoned athletes at the peak of their abilities.
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