It is with great sadness that we report the death of 30-year-old Swedish big-mountain skier Matilda Rapaport.
Rapaport was buried in an avalanche while participating in a commercial film shoot in Farellones, Chile on Thursday, July 14. She was rescued following the incident and airlifted to a hospital in Santiago; reports suggest she arrived at the hospital within and hour and a half of being buried. Rapaport’s condition was critical; she was in a coma due to complications resulting from a lack of oxygen.
On Monday, July 18, Rapaport succumbed to her injuries. Her mother Annika and her husband—Swedish World Cup slalom skier Mattias Hargin—were at her side.
Rapaport was a successful big-mountain skier who made her mark all over the world; her accolades include many noteworthy results on the Freeride World Tour: 2nd at Haines, Alaska in 2016; 3rd at Chamonix Mont-Blanc in 2016; 2nd at Chamonix in 2014; 1st at Verbier Xtreme in 2013. Rapaport also spent much time working with esteemed film production companies including Shades of Winter; the group is set to release its latest film Between this October. That film will feature some of the world’s best female skiers—including Rapaport—and other female extreme sports athletes.
“It is a terrible event with a sad outcome which is very hard to take in,” said Tommy Eliasson Winter, the Swedish Ski Association’s head of alpine sports. “Our thoughts are with Matilda’s loved ones and we will do everything we can to support them at this difficult time.”
Rapaport will be dearly missed by all corners of the ski community. Remembrances from professional skiers and industry icons are rolling in via social media; we have embedded many of these notes below and will continue to update this page as new tributes are posted. FREESKIER extends its deepest condolences to the Rapaport family, to Mattias Hargin and to all those who were touched by the departed.
Update: July 20, 2016
Various sources—including the International Business Times, BBC and Swedish news site Expressen—are now saying Rapaport was filming a commercial for a not-yet-released extreme sports video game titled Steep.
Steep is owned by Ubisoft, a video game developer company based out of Rennes, France, which released the following statement to Expressen:
“We are deeply saddened by the news of Matilda Rapaport’s death. After a film production in Chile on Thursday, July 14 caught her in an avalanche. Despite the care and treatment days after, it was not possible to save her life.
Matilda’s courage, passion and desire to share the sport she loved with the world was an inspiration to other athletes, and for all of us. This tragic incident has touched us deeply.
Our hearts and thoughts go out to her husband and all her other family during this difficult time.”
Rapaport posted a photo on July 14—the day she was caught in the avalanche that would ultimately take her life—with the hashtag #STEEPgame.
The skiing community remembers Matilda Rapaport:
Super bummed to hear of the passing of @MatildaRapaport. Hoping for strength for her husband @mattiashargin, family and friends. Ski on…
— Cody Townsend (@codytownsend) July 18, 2016
So sad ???? https://t.co/L2AObsKA72
— Mike Douglas (@MikeDski) July 18, 2016
This is another painful shock for the freeride community & the #FWTfamily.Matilda was the embodiment of excellence, on & off the mountain <3
— Freeride World Tour (@FreerideWTour) July 18, 2016
Always kind, welcoming, and warm. Saddened that @MatildaRapaport has passed. Sending love and light to all who were close. ❤️
— Michelle Parker (@MyshellParker) July 18, 2016
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