Two US Ski Team prospects have died in an Avalanche. Ronnie Berlack, 20, and Bryce Astle, 19, we caught in a slide on Monday. A group of 6 athlete’s were training in Soelden, the host of the annual World Cup Race, when they decided to take a freeski run in the backcountry. The 4 other racers were able to out-ski the slide, and escaped unharmed.

Officials in Soelden said an avalanche alert was issued after days of heavy snowfall and mild temperatures. The danger level was rated a three out of five – “considerable” risk. Reports suggest the glacier where the avalanche occurred was explicitly closed due to these conditions. Rescuers were able to dig out the boys, but they were pronounced dead on the scene. ORF, and Austrian broadcaster, said neither boy had a beacon or probe.

Berlack, a Franconia New Hampshire native and Burke Mountain Academy alumn, was named to the development team in 2013 after two top-20 finished in the U.S. Alpine Championships and a spring tryout camp in Mammoth Mountain.

Astle, a Sandy Utah resident, and racer from Snowbird, was invited to train with the development team in Soelden after two top-10 NorAm Cup races December.

Ronnie and Bryce were both outstanding ski racers

“Ronnie and Bryce were both outstanding ski racers who were passionate about their sport – both on the race course and skiing the mountain,” said U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association President and CEO Tiger Shaw. “Our hearts go out to the Berlack and Astle families, as well as to their extended sport family. Both of them loved what they did and conveyed that to those around them.”

The public is invtied to leave their condolances on the US Ski Team’s Facebook post.

This added to a total of 3 avalanche deaths on Monday.