Tragic news for the Freeski community!
Freeride World Tour contender and Volkl Skis athlete Hugo Hoff lost his life in a dramatic accident in the Mont-Blanc massif. He was only 20 years old.
Fatal accident for young professional skier
On 31 May 2020, French professional athlete Hugo Hoff was in the Gervasutti corridor, on the east face of the Mont-Blanc du Tacul.
According to Snowbrains, Hugo Hoff was ski mountaineering, together with a friend, when they fell several hundred meters. Sky Sports Italy reports a dramatic fall of 700 meters (2,296 ft).
Although the exact circumstances of the accident are still unclear, the young skier lost his life. The PGHM of Chamonix intervened at around 12.45 pm, and they discovered the body of the victim, who was not buried.
His companion, also in his twenties, was slightly injured. He was taken to Sallanches hospital by the Civil Protection helicopter, Dragon 74. He will be questioned later by the PGHM of Chamonix, to determine the exact cause of the accident.
The skiing world pays tribute
"Hi! I’m 18 years old. I grew up in Serrechevalier where I did 10 years of ski racing. But I also discovered the pleasures of the Freeski with my friends from the ski club. Then in 2015, I decided to stop ski racing to do what I’d always loved: freeskiing", begins Hugo's self-description on www.voelkl.com.
Hugo was an incredibly talented skier who won Freeride Junior World tour 2016-2017 and participated in FWT qualifying events to make his way on the circuit.
Since 15 May 2020, Hugo Hoff is a member of "Team Les Arcs", ambassador of the resort of Les Arcs in Savoie where he recently started his instructor exams. He was a member of Les Arcs Freeski Academy. Freerider accomplished, sponsored and participating in the Freeride World Qualifier.
The young man is a former resident of the Serre Chevalier Vallée ski club (CSSC, Hautes-Alpes). "He has spent almost his entire life at the club", reacted Patrick Gelato, the president of the Haut-Alpine club.
Hugo Hoff, whose last results in alpine skiing date back to 2015, started freeriding and left the Guisane valley for Les Arcs in Savoie.
"He was a very good skier, but he did not manage to pass a course in competition, so he turned to freeride, the high mountains", continues Patrick Gelato, very affected by the death of a youngster in his club.
Hugo is of the same generation -1999, 2000, 2001- as our four boys who died last year. In February 2019, four young people from the Serre Chevalier valley, dismissed from local ski clubs, lost their lives in a car accident.
Source @Le Dauphine
Freeride World Tour has expressed their condolences:
A short video of Hugo, doing what he loved most.
Our deepest sympathies to Hugo’s family and friends!
