Photo: BRASS Avalanche
Skiing in Europe This Winter? Think Powder—But Think Safety First. Ten Years After Sölden, BRASS Avalanche Expands Global Snow-Safety Mission
Ten years ago, a U.S. Ski Team training camp in Sölden, Austria, turned tragic. Rising stars Bryce Astle and Ronnie Berlack were caught and killed in an avalanche just meters off a groomed trail. Their families turned grief into purpose, founding BRASS Avalanche—Bryce and Ronnie Athlete Snow Safety—to educate, advocate, and save lives.
This weekend, as the World Cup once again opened its season in Sölden, BRASS marked the tenth anniversary by urging the global ski community to stay informed and think safety first.
Traveling to Europe This Winter? Know Before You Go
With fast travel, seamless connectivity, and easy access to world-class training venues, the Alps have never been more inviting for North American skiers. The allure is obvious—deep snow, vast terrain, and the thrill of skiing Europe.
But BRASS reminds athletes, coaches, and families that Europe’s avalanche-mitigation system operates very differently from North America’s—and that difference can be deadly. Understanding those distinctions can mean the difference between a dream trip and disaster.
1. Know the Mitigation Practices
In the U.S. and Canada, ski areas work to control avalanches within resort boundaries. In Europe, however, avalanche control is limited to marked and groomed pistes.
Step even one meter off a groomed trail, and you may be in uncontrolled, high-risk terrain.
“Due to the vastness of the Alps, patrols cannot mitigate every slope after storms or weather changes,” BRASS explains. “If you leave the groomer, you could be in deadly terrain.”
So—stay on groomed or marked trails, no matter how tempting that untouched powder looks.
2. Check the Avalanche Forecast Daily
Before traveling, visit BRASSavalanche.org/forecasts to review conditions in your destination region. Each European country publishes its own forecast, often in multiple languages.
Look for key warning signs:
- “mentioned” danger words like treacherous or weak layer that signal instability
- Danger Level: a 1–5 scale, with 5 being extreme — but levels 3–5 can be fatal
- Level 3: where most fatalities occur. It’s in the middle of the 1–5 scale, so many think it’s “medium.” In fact, Level 3 means dangerous avalanche conditions, and only people with proper knowledge and tools should be out.
Even when skiing “inbounds,” be alert—climate change has increased in-resort avalanche events. The more informed you are, the better prepared you’ll be to balance the thrill of deep snow with the knowledge to stay alive.
From Tragedy to Transformation
Since 2018, BRASS has delivered its BRASS 101 avalanche-education program to thousands of young racers, coaches, and clubs across North America. The short film “Off Piste”, available at BRASSavalanche.org, reenacts the 2015 Sölden accident to drive home lifesaving lessons.
BRASS 101 programs are free of charge—BRASS covers the cost of bringing top-level avalanche instructors to clubs and schools anywhere in the country.
Today, the BRASS mission is expanding beyond North America. Atle Lie McGrath, a recent Sölden podium finisher, continues to be a friend and supporter of BRASS. His mother, Selma Lie, has helped introduce BRASS 101 to Norwegian ski academies. This week, she and co-founder Cindy Berlack will present at the Norwegian National Avalanche Conference in Oppdal.
Could every national team and ski club worldwide have access to BRASS 101 in their own language? “Possibly,” says BRASS—and they’re working toward that goal.
A New Chapter of Leadership
BRASS enters its second decade with new leadership and renewed energy.
- Sam Damon, former U.S. Ski & Snowboard Eastern Region Director, is the new Executive Director.
- Sam Macomber, an experienced outdoorsman and attorney from Boise, now chairs the Board of Directors.
Together, “Sam and Sam” are guiding BRASS into a future focused on broader advocacy, global reach, and continued athlete-safety education.
Join the Conversation
BRASS is hosting a live online snow-safety webinar (date and time to be announced soon) featuring:
- BRASS supporter and World Championships medalist Atle Lie McGrath
- U.S. downhill legends Steven Nyman and Travis Ganong
- Jimmy Krupka, Arc City podcaster and World Cup skier
- Sophie Goldschmidt, CEO of U.S. Ski & Snowboard
The webinar will explore lifesaving education, evolving snow-science insights, and the shared goal of keeping athletes safe. Participation is free, and BRASS encourages every ski club and academy to join the discussion and help spread awareness.
Gatherings This Fall
In addition to the webinar, BRASS will host two in-person gatherings this fall:
- Nov. 12 – Park City, Utah
- Nov. 28 – Copper, Colorado
To bring a free BRASS 101 avalanche-education session to your club or school, contact info@brassavalanche.org.
A Message That Endures
As the snow season begins and skiers chase new lines across Europe and beyond, BRASS’s message remains clear: learn, think, and respect the mountain.
“Bryce and Ronnie’s story is a powerful reminder,” says Damon. “Their legacy is saving lives every winter.”
For more resources, visit BRASSavalanche.org.
About the Author: SR Staff Report
