When Karine Ruby was 20 years old, she not only competed for but won the gold medal for the Olympic Giant Slalom in Nagano, Japan. After all of her Olympic accolades Karine continued to be a major name in the snowboarding world through her freeriding in the deep powder of Chamonix and combining it with mountaineering to reach the deep backcountry.

Sadly, whilst climbing in the Mont Blanc range, Karine fell to her death on a crevasse on Friday. A 38-year-old man from the Paris region also died in the fall, and a 27-year-old man was evacuated by helicopter with serious injuries. The circumstances of the accident are still unknown but we wish Karine’s family our condolences.

She was a trailblazer in women’s snowboarding and will always be remembered for her contributions to the sport.

Photo: Marion Aurel