World Champion Snowboarder, 21, Dies in Avalanche

Apr 19, 2016, 03:14 PM

A 21-year-old world champion snowboarder was killed by an avalanche in Switzerland on Tuesday,sports officials said.

Described as a "naturally gifted shining star," Estelle Balet died in the canton of Valais, on Switzerland's southwest border with Italy and France, according to a statement from the Freeride World Tour.

Balet had earned her second world title as part of the Freeride World Tour in Verbier, Switzerland, earlier this year.