Ski-racing avalanche deaths ‘hit home’ in C.O.

In Central Oregon’s tight-knit ski racing community, news of the deaths of Ronnie Berlack, 20 and Bryce Astle, 19, in an Austrian avalanche lhit close to home.

“Whenever you lose two young athletes, it’s difficult on everyone,” John Schiemer, executive director of the Mt. Bachelor Sports Education Foundation, said Tuesday.

The two young skiers died in an avalanche in Soelden, Austria on Monday. They were at their development training camp, with hopes of joining the U.S. Ski Team when their dreams were cut short.

“They worked really hard their entire lives,” Schiemer said.

Tiger Shaw, head of the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association, said in a statement that “Ronnie and Bryce were both outstanding ski racers who were passionate about their sport, both on the race course and skiing the mountain.”

“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.”

Last April, Astle raced on Mt. Bachelor.

“He did very well. He took second place in a slalom race,” Schiemer said.

One of their coaches, Eric Holmer, lives in Bend with his family. He was a racer with MBSEF before retiring in 2007.

Holmer got into coaching for the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics. He was with the team at the time of the avalanche and texted his father in Bend moments later.

“It’s the toughest day I’ve ever had,” the text said. “We don’t even know what to think right now. But luckily we have a great group of staff and athletes for each other.”

His father, Scott Holmer, was too emotional to talk to NewsChannel 21 on camera Tuesday but said his son helped try to dig the men out of the compacted snow.
Holmer’s wife said he is absolutely heartbroken, and working those boys was his home away from home.

It was a dark day for the entire skiing community.

“We have kids their age in our program, and they have the same dreams and aspirations. So it does hit home,” Schiemer said.