Former French freerider Juliette Willmann killed in Argentine avalanche

Juliette Willmann, a former French freeride competitor who last raced professionally in 2022, was killed in an avalanche on Cerro Crestón near El Chaltén, Argentina. The accident occurred during a backcountry ski outing with her boyfriend, when a slab of snow collapsed and swept them down a 400-meter run. A guide alerted authorities mid-day, but rescuers found Willmann's body buried over a meter deep, despite attempts at CPR.

Her partner was rescued unharmed and flown out for treatment. Early reports attribute the slide to a rupture of a snow layer. Willmann, originally from Marseille, had previously won the 2018 Freeride World Qualifier and placed fourth in the 2021 Freeride World Tour before moving into high-mountain guiding.