Two Ski Prospects from the United States (U.S.) were recently killed in an avalanche Monday while they were skiing near a European training base in the Austrian Alps. The skiers were Ronnie Berlack and Bryce Astle, 20 and 19 years old, respectively.

The incident occurred near the Rettenback glacier in the mountains over Soelden. The area is also the venue for the annual season-opening World Cup races.

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Berlack and Astle were part of a group of six skiers who were descending from the 3,056-meter Gaislachkogel when they left the prepared slope and apparently set off the avalanche. While the other four skiers escaped unhurt, Berlack and Astle were not so fortunate.

The officials in the Tyrolean region did declare a potential avalanche alert for the area after heavy snowfall and mild temperatures have gone on for days.

"Ronnie and Bryce were both outstanding ski racers who were passionate about their sport -- both on the race course and skiing the mountain," U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association president and CEO Tiger Shaw said.

"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."

Alpine director Patrick Riml said that the tragedy had left the U.S. Ski Team in shock. The team is currently in Zagreb, Croatia, where they are preparing for a World Cup race on Tuesday.

Head coach Sascha Rearick left Zagreb shortly after being informed and travelled back to Austria in order to be with the development team of Berlack and Astle.

As for the team in Croatia, Riml said that it was up to them whether they still wanted to compete on the Tuesday race.

"They all have the potential (to be on the World Cup)," Riml said. "These two boys were among the other eight boys who are our future. We believed in these guys, that's why we selected them."

TagsRonnie Berlack, Bryce Astle, avalanche