Tribute planned for 2 US ski prospects killed in avalanche

Published Feb. 4, 2015 5:35 p.m. ET

foxsports

BEAVER CREEK, Colo. (AP) Two U.S. Ski Team prospects killed in an avalanche last month will be honored Thursday at the world championships.

As a tribute to Ronnie Berlack, 20, and Bryce Astle, 19, an honorary forerunner will be sent down the course before the men's super-G race. Berlack was a forerunner at the Beaver Creek race in December.

The parents of both skiers will be in attendance.

Berlack and Astle were part of a group of six skiers who were descending from a peak near Soelden, Austria, when they left the prepared slope and apparently set off the avalanche. The other four skied out of the slide and escaped unhurt.