JP Auclair, Andreas Fransson, Liz Daley Killed in Two Separate Avalanches in South America

October 1st, 2014


The ski world is mourning the loss of JP Auclair (left) & Andreas Fransson (right) in an avalanche in Chilean Patagonia. Image:: Unofficial Networks

Mountainwatch | Alex Horvath

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UPDATE: According to ESPN, rescuers were able to reach the bodies around 9am today, local time. The swedish film crew remained unharmed.

UPDATE (2:45pm): We have just received news from a reliable source close to the expedition that the reports of confirmation of JP and Andreas’ deaths were premature. It seems that shortly after the incident the film crew lost visual and radio contact with the group and initiated rescue protocol. Chilean Authorities were able to make a visual assessment of bodies in the debris from a helicopter, but were neither able to confirm nor deny signs of life. A rescue mission will not be able to reach the pair or land a helicopter until daybreak. Hopes are thin, but for now we cling to them.

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In a terrible turn of events, the global snowsport community is reeling from the news that two legends of the ski world, JP Auclair and Andreas Fransson were both killed by an avalanche while skiing in an extremely remote region of Chilean Patagonia. Then shortly after, we received word that big mountain snowboarder, AMGA certified guide, and climber Liz Daley also perished in a separate and unrelated incident in the Santa Cruz Mountains, Patagonia. 

Full details on both incidents are brief, but it seems that all three athletes have now been confirmed dead by the National Office of Emergency of the Interior Ministry of Chile.

According to reports filed on Unofficial Networks, JP and Andreas were skiing in the remote region of Monte San Lorenzo, on the border of Chile and Argentina, when an avalanche triggered above them. The group were filming for a new webisode series entitled, Apogee Skiing. San Lorenzo is the second highest mountain in Patagonia, and sits tall at 3,706m.

Transworld Snowboarding has reported that Liz Daley was on a mountaineering expedition when her group was overcome by an avalanche in the Fitz Roy Massif region outside of El Chaltén, Argentina. Members of her group were able to quickly locate the 29-year-old American, but could do nothing to save her.


Big Mountain snowboarder, Liz Daley, was also killed in a separate avalanche in the Santa Cruz Mountains only hours apart from the slide which claimed the lives of the skiers. Image:: Splitboardbindings.com

The news has sent shockwaves through a tight-knit ski industry that is all too aware of the perilous nature of the mountains that we call our playground. Both Auclair and Fransson have been instrumental in the progression of their sport and have left an indelible legacy upon the global skiing fraternity.

Editor of Australian ski magazine Chillfactor, Reggae Elliss, commented: “The loss of JP Auclair and Andreas Fransson is another sad day for skiing and a reminder of the volatile nature of the mountains. JP Auclair was one of the most influential skiers of his generation. As part of the New Canadian Airforce, JP was at the forefront of the new school free skiing movement in the mid-90s, but a love of big mountains saw him evolve into one of the world’s leading all-mountain free skiers. It was also the connection he shared with Andreas.  His influence on ski design can’t be underestimated, first through his involvement with Salomon’s 1080, one of the first commercial twin-tips on the market, and then as a founder of Armada. First and foremost, JP and Andreas were skiers; skiing was their life.”

Our condolences go out to the family of JP, Andreas and Liz. Shred in peace…