Estelle Balet

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Estelle Balet
Photograph of Estelle Balet, taken in 2014
Balet at the 2014 Freeride World Tour in Chamonix
Personal information
NationalitySwiss
Born(1994-12-19)19 December 1994
Sion, Valais, Switzerland
Died19 April 2016(2016-04-19) (aged 21)
Orsières, Valais, Switzerland
OccupationSnowboarder
Years active2004–16
Height169 cm
Websiteestellebalet.com
Sport
CountrySwitzerland
SportSnowboarding
Achievements and titles
World finalsTwo world titles

Estelle Balet (19 December 1994 – 19 April 2016) was a Swiss freeride snowboarder and two-time world champion in 2015 and 2016 at the Freeride World Tour.

Balet started skiing early in her childhood. At the age of ten she transitioned from skiing to snowboarding.[1] Balet specialized particularly in switch, frontside 180, frontside 360 and jib.[2] In 2015, Balet became the youngest ever Freeride World Tour champion when she won the women's snowboarding event. She won the same event in 2016.[3]

On 19 April 2016, Balet died in an avalanche while snowboarding in Orsières.[1] She was filming a snowboard segment for a film called Exploring the Known on Le Portalet in southwestern Switzerland. Despite swift action from emergency services and attendance from Air Glaciers, she died from her injuries.[4]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Chrisafis, Angelique. Estelle Balet, snowboarding champion, killed at age of 21 in avalanche. The Guardian (19 April 2016). Retrieved 19 April 2016.
  2. ↑ Estelle BaletSwatch. Retrieved 19 April 2016.
  3. ↑ Champion Swiss snowboarder Estelle Balet dies in avalancheBBC News Online. Retrieved 19 April 2016.
  4. ↑ Chan, Sewell. Estelle Balet, Champion Snowboarder, Dies in Swiss Avalanche. The New York Times (19 April 2016). Retrieved 19 April 2016.