Two promising US skiers killed in tragic avalanche in Austria

Bryce Astle, 19, and Ronnie Berlack, 20, died near the team’s training base next to the Rettenbach glacier, which is near Soelden.

According to AFP, six skiers were embarking on a descent and triggered an avalanche when going off the prepared course.

The two "were among a group of six athletes free-skiing at the Austrian resort," the US ski team said in a statement. "The other four skied out of the slide.”

The Austrian broadcaster ORF said neither man was wearing avalanche emergency gear.

The danger level on the mountain at the time was rated at three on a scale of five, meaning there was a "considerable" risk of avalanche, according to the Austrian news agency APA.

The US team said Berlack had been named on the development team following an impressive display at the 2013 US Alpine Championships.

Astle had joined the team earlier this season, impressing in a recent NorAm Cup race in Canada.

“Ronnie and Bryce were both outstanding ski racers who were passionate about their sport – both on the race course and skiing the mountain,” the US Ski and Snowboard Association president, 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.”

The area had been subject to an avalanche alert following a combination of heavy snow and balmy temperatures.