Kasha Rigby was born in Stowe, Vermont in 1970 and started skiing as soon as she could walk. She honed her skills on the East Coast ice, becoming a telemark skier as a teenager, before moving out to Crested Butte, Colorado, where she began competing in telemark racing and extreme-skiing competitions at age 22.
Her love for skiing and traveling was the driving force in her life. She soon became known as a pioneering ski mountaineer. She loved experiencing different cultures and skied first descents in the world’s biggest mountain ranges. She impacted generation after generation of skiers, so many of whom recall having posters of Rigby on their walls growing up.
Lifestyle
Rigby was a free-spirited adventurer who never followed the conventional path of alpine skiing. She embraced extreme skiing at an early age and credited herself as “the best female telemark skier in the known universe” when she appeared on the cover of Women Outside in Fall 1998. Telemark skiing is about mobility, rhythm, and balance, according to Rigby. She also loved to go fast—really fast.
After joining The North Face Ski Team in 1995, she skied all over the U.S., Canada, South America, New Zealand, Russia, Asia, Europe, India, and the Middle East. She skied first descents on many of the world’s most revered peaks, including the Five Holy Peaks in Mongolia.
Cause of death
Kasha Rigby was a legendary American skier and ski mountaineer who died in an avalanche in Kosovo on February 13, 2024, at the age of 54. She was known for her accomplishments in telemark skiing, a style of skiing that combines mobility, rhythm, and balance. She was also a pioneer of extreme skiing and ski mountaineering, exploring the world through skiing and first descents on many of the world’s most revered peaks.
According to the news reports, Rigby was caught in an avalanche at Brezovica Resort in Kosovo, near the top of the mountain, where she dropped in.
The avalanche measured approximately 25 meters by 10 meters and resulted in massive internal bleeding and damage to her organs, particularly her lungs. Despite the quick response of her skiing partner, fiancé Magnus Wolfe, who reached her within 20 seconds and attempted CPR, Rigby’s injuries proved fatal, and she passed away within seconds.
Rigby’s death has shocked and saddened the skiing community and inspired many tributes from her friends and fellow skiers. She was a role model for anyone who loves skiing and wants to make a positive impact on the world. You can learn more about Kasha Rigby’s life and legacy from her official website [here] or from her biography .
Education
Rigby did not have a formal education in skiing or mountaineering, but she learned from her own experiences and from other adventurous souls. She was mentored by Bob Featherman, a legendary backcountry explorer and filmmaker who taught her how to ski with confidence and creativity. She also learned from Ace Kvale, a longtime friend and fellow telemark skier who invited her to ski volcanoes in Ecuador and other exotic destinations.
Background
Rigby was born into a family of skiers and outdoor enthusiasts. Her father was a ski instructor and her mother was a yoga teacher. She grew up in Stowe, Vermont and developed a passion for skiing from a young age.
She moved to Crested Butte, Colorado when she was 22 and began competing in telemark racing and extreme-skiing competitions. She soon became known as a pioneer of extreme telemark skiing and a free-spirited adventurer who explored the world through skiing.
Conclusion
Kasha Rigby was a legend of skiing and mountaineering who inspired many people with her courage, creativity, and curiosity. She died tragically in an avalanche in Kosovo on February 13, 2024 at age 54, but her legacy lives on through her achievements and adventures. She once said: “I don’t want to be just another skier. I want to be something more.” And she certainly was something more than just another skier. She was Kasha Rigby.