A 31-year-old world champion skier sadly perished in an avalanche.
The American actor Kyle Smaine was in Japan when the snow fell, according to his relatives.
Smaine, who took home the gold in the halfpipe at the 2015 world championships in Kreischberg, travelled to the Far East to take advantage of the region’s “unbelievable snow quality” and to promote travel there in the wake of the pandemic.
But tragically, he perished on the slopes of the 2,469-meter Hakuba Norikura mountain close to the Tsugaike ski resort along with an unnamed Austrian skier.
On Sunday afternoon, Smaine’s fellow American skier Adam Ü was also caught in the avalanche.
However, he was pulled out in the rescue effort.
Ü said: “We saw it coming.
“We heard the crack. We realised it [was] a big one.
“We started running and then we got hit.”
Japanese police added that three people were able to climb down the mountain safely despite the sudden rush of snow.
Following the recent spate of significant snowfall, there was an avalanche warning.
Smaine received numerous tributes on his Instagram page.
A video showing the joyful Californian revelling in the off-piste snow was shared by the skier just hours before he perished in the tragedy.
Smaine wrote: “This is what brings me back to Japan each winter.
“Unbelievable snow quality, non-stop storms, and really fun terrain that seems to get better the more exploring you do.”
One friend commented: “Wish we had more time to ski these past few years. Thanks for always being such a positive energy Kyle. Heavy hearts tonight.”
Another wrote: “Miss you man. Still remember that mami run like it was yesterday. RIP.”
A third said: “Such a bright light lost. Sending so much love to Jenna and the Tahoe family ♥️”
One mate heartbreakingly replied: “Being your friend was a true gift. I love you.”
And a final user simply added: “Love you buddy.”
