While the sports community mourns the loss of a talented individual like Sophie Hediger, the holiday season has become unbearable for the people she left behind, including her close friends and long-time partner.
The unfortunate news came on December 23, 2024, as Sophie Hediger had been trapped in an avalanche in Arosa. Growing up, the location held significant milestones for the snowboarder and marked her final destination.
Further, the Swiss-Ski Foundation extended their condolence to Hediger’s family and her partner, Dario Wüthrich. Wüthrich had been publicly together with the snowboarder since 2020.
Without revealing much about their relationship, Sophie Hediger posted about her partner and credited him for making her happy. In one of their oldest post, the snowboarder wrote, “You make me smile.”
Wüthrich comes from a sports background and is a professional ice hockey player. The pair bonded over their shared interest in the industry and through common friends.
Over the years, Hediger’s partner has represented Switzerland on the international stage. Before these achievements, he played for the EHC Wettingen-Baden youth team.
Additionally, Wüthrich played as a defenseman and drove his team to win the National League in the 2021-2022 season. Besides that, the 25-year-old ice hockey player was often spotted at his partner’s games.
Months before Hediger’s tragic demise, the couple shared a picture of their much-needed vacation, along with their dog Heiba. They traveled to Switzerland’s countryside and spent the summer together.
However, following the unfortunate news, Wüthrich has made his Instagram private and has yet to come forward with a public statement. Fans have given him space to go through this unexpected news.
Sophie Hediger wasn’t alone during the calamity that claimed her life!
Due to the sensitivity of the incident, officials have concealed most of its details. News outlets revealed that Hediger was skiing with another person at the time of the avalanche.
Moreover, Sophie Hediger and her ski partner, whose name and status haven’t been reported, were on the closed slope. The pair were on their way to decent the mountain when the unexpected occurred.
According to reports, emergency services were immediately notified but had difficulty over 2 hours in locating the snowboarder and her partner.
Unfortunately, the cold seeped into Hediger’s body despite efforts to revive her on the scene. An ongoing investigation is being conducted to find the exact location of the avalanche hit.
Following her demise, the snowboarding foundation revealed her plans for 2025. Hediger planned to participate and win a medal at the World Championship in Engadin, Switzerland.
Previously, in 2023 and 2024, she achieved her first two World Cup podium places and came in second in the World Cup dress rehearsal in St. Moritz. Hediger disliked the results and often practiced in difficult locations.
A week before her demise, Hediger posted about a recent competition in Italy after crashing in 1/4 in finals. She added that it was her best qualification despite being in a P3 position.
Additionally, the federation claimed that she made Switzerland proud during the 2022 Beijing Olympics. Now, they hope for Hediger to rest in peace as she has left a mark in the snowboarding community.
In case you didn’t know
- Born and raised in Horgen, Zurich, Sophie Anna Hediger began her career at a young age. She took snowboarding as a hobby and later started participating competitively in women’s and mixed-team events.
- Sources estimate that Sohie Hediger’s net worth was $1 million before her tragic passing. The wealth came from competition prize money, endorsements, and contract deals.
