Former world halfpipe champion Smaine killed in avalanche in Japan

TOKYO, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- Former world halfpipe champion Kyle Smaine of the United States has died in an avalanche in the backcountry of Japan's Nagano prefecture on Monday.

Kyle Smaine of US celebrates at the podium after the Men's Ski Halfpipe Final at FIS Freestyle and Snowboarding World Ski Championships in Kreischberg, Austria on January 22, 2015. (File photo: AFP)

"Today we lost an incredible person, friend, skier and teammate to the mountains," the U.S. freeski team announced on social media. "Kyle Smaine was a world champion freeskier, loved exploring the mountains, was a fierce competitor but an even better person and friend."

Local police said that the 31-year-old, who won freestyle skiing halfpipe gold medal at the 2015 world championships, was one of two men found dead in the avalanche.