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Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Olympian Audun Groenvold Dead at 49 After Being Struck by Lightning
Originally appeared on E! Online The sports community is mourning a tragic loss. Olympian Audun Groenvold, who earned a bronze medal in men's ski cross at the 2010 Vancouver Games, died July 15 after being struck by lightning, the Norwegian Ski Federation announced. He was 49. 'It is with great sadness that we have received the news of Audun Groenvold's untimely passing,' the federation said in a statement July 16, translated from Norwegian. 'The former national alpine and ski cross athlete was recently struck by lightning during a cabin trip.' The organization added that Groenvold 'was quickly taken to hospital and treated for the injuries he sustained in the lightning strike,' but ultimately did not survive the occurrence. Groenvold began his career as a member of Norway's national alpine skiing team from the 1993/1994 season to the 2003/2004 season, scoring a third place finish at the FIS Alpine Ski World Cup finals in Spain in 1999. To read about more shocking freak accidents, keep scrolling. More from E! Online Pete Davidson Expecting First Baby With Girlfriend Elsie Hewitt Kelly Ripa Reveals Husband Mark Consuelos' 'Repulsive' Sex Habit Christina Haack and Tarek El Moussa's HGTV Shows Cancelled He later broke into freestyle and ski cross, leading to a bronze medal in ski cross at the FIS Freestyle World Ski Championships in 2005 as well as a Ski Cross World Cup win two years later. Following his Olympic showing in 2010, Groenvold became a national team coach and TV commentator while also serving on the board of the Norwegian Ski Association. In the wake of Groenvold's passing, Norwegian Ski Federation president Tove Moe Dyrhaug lauded him as 'a prominent figure who has meant so much to both the alpine and freestyle communities.' 'Audun had a great career in both alpine skiing and ski cross, before becoming the national ski cross coach,' Dyrhaug said in the release, translated from Norwegian, adding that the late athlete's death leaves 'a big void.' Groenvold is survived by his wife, Kristin Tandberg Haugsjå, along with their three children. To read about more shocking freak accidents, keep scrolling. Maddie AldridgeRebel WilsonJimmy FallonZane WachJeremy RennerTrigg KiserCara HodgsonJuliana MarinsTori SpellingTony KnightSanjay ShahOrlando Bloom For the latest breaking news updates, click here to download the E! News App
Yahoo
22-03-2025
- Yahoo
Val Thorens: The world's best ski resort — that was almost never built
Val Thorens, the highest ski resort in Europe at 2,300m, was again named the 'Best Ski Resort in the World' at the latest annual World Ski Awards. This was the ninth time in the last 12 years that the resort has won. Val Thorens is part of Les 3 Vallées, the largest interconnected ski area in the world with a whopping 600 km of pistes and 162 lifts, and is a much-loved winter playground. But it was almost never built. Nobody wanted to finance its construction, live in it, or work in it. It was considered too high, too far, too cold, too windy and too risky. Despite the odds, it opened in 1971 when the first of three initial drag lifts were installed, followed in 1972 by the opening of the first ski school. A government minister was particularly unhappy about the resort, and in 1981, suggested on national radio, that 'the order should be given for fighter planes to demolish Val Thorens!' And yet, 54 years on, it is one of the most famous ski resorts in the world. As a purpose-built resort that grew largely in the 1980s, rather than an old mountain village that's been expanded to accommodate skiing, the resort lacks charm. But this is more than made up for with the fact that most accommodation is ski-in ski-out, and everybody in the resort is there purely for a love of the mountains and to play in the snow. I've skied there a few times and love the resort's varied slopes, international feel, the youthful buzz and guaranteed snow, thanks to its high altitude. The resort caters for everyone. Families love Val Thorens for easy access to the many beginner's slopes. Twenty-somethings jump about the renowned après scene (hello Follies). Foodies can indulge in contemporary French cuisine through to Michelin dining. While those with tired legs can relax in hotel spas, soothing aching muscles while enjoying mountain vistas. Its popularity has only grown what with skiers seeking snow-sure resorts after a couple of years of warm temperatures and a lack of snow in the Alps. The 2024 to 25 season saw a number of exciting new developments, events and openings to further elevate the ski resorts credentials. Three of the season's biggest winter sports events happened in Val Thorens; the ATSX Ice Cross World Championships, Ski Cross World Cup, and the Freeride World Tour. Diversifying the resorts dining options, Yaki Alta, a new Asian restaurant, opened, while the 5 star hotel 'Koh I Nor' and 4-star L'Oxalys hotel both re-opened after an extensive refurbishment. Although my favourite hotel to stay in is the Pashmia — a cosy, luxury hotel that also happens to be the highest in the Alps. The service is unbeatable in this family owned, 45-room and suite hotel whose style is inspired by mountaineering and adventure. Prints of the resort through its history are scattered along corridor walls between hung wooden skis. An open fire warms the bar whereby guests play board games or select books from the hotel's shelves of stories of adventure and mountain photography. Pashmina's 450-square-meter spa is the highlight, particularly the two outdoor hot tubs, from which you can watch the mountain silhouetted sunset before the resort slowly falls into its starry slumber. Another resort upgrade, the new 52 million, state-of-the-art Caron 3200 summit cable car and building perched at 3,200m houses a new restaurant with 130 seats, a cosy wine bar, a rooftop bar and panoramic terrace. However, its opening has been delayed until next season after issues with its cable car during testing. Additionally, the 2 Lacs chairlift has been replaced by a fast and modern 10-seat gondola which takes riders higher up the mountain, while there are 2 new marked ski touring trails. For a resort that faced so much opposition in its development, Val Thorens keeps defying those original critics with its world-class skiing, multiple international awards, and global winter sport events. And winter sport enthusiasts love for the resort only seems to grow. Last year, the resort sold 1.9 million ski days through lift passes. That's a lot of skiing! Book a ski trip to Val Therons for next season now to beat the rush.
