The victims of the deadly avalanche in Hemsedal, Norway, have been identified as 29-year-old former professional skier Guro Jordheim — a standout at the University of Utah — and 34-year-old Swedish resort employee Max Napoleon Andersson.
The avalanche struck at approximately 11:10 a.m. on Easter Monday, April 6, in steep backcountry terrain near Hemsedal Ski Center — one of Scandinavia’s premier ski destinations. A group of seven skiers was caught in the slide, which occurred during a period of intense snowfall and unstable conditions. Rescue teams, including 19 Red Cross responders, launched a rapid search and located all seven individuals within an hour. Sadly, the help came too late for two skiers: Jordheim and Andersson, who were pronounced dead at the scene.
The identification of Jordheim has drawn particular attention in the skiing world across the globe. The 29-year-old was a former professional cross-country skier, who built a decorated collegiate career at the University of Utah from 2017 to 2020. During her time there, she became one of the most accomplished Nordic skiers in program history, earning seven All-American honors and being named the 2020 U.S. Collegiate Ski Coaches Association Women’s Nordic Skier of the Year. She also played a key role in leading Utah to two NCAA team championships in 2017 and 2019, recording 17 career race wins and 29 podium finishes.
Jordheim later returned to Norway and competed for Team Aker Dæhlie, retiring in April 2025 after what was considered her strongest season. In addition to her skiing career, she had recently begun focusing on business ventures and family life in Hemsedal.
The announcement of her death has been met by an outpouring of messages on the Utah Ski Team and U.S. Ski Team social media accounts. Other former collegiate athletes remembered the Norwegian woman as “a sweet person,” who “brightened every room she was in.”
U.S. National Alpine ski racer Isabella Wright — a Utah native — shared broken heart emojis, while the University of Utah’s ski director, Fredrik Landstedt, offered his condolences to her family, stating, “We all loved Guro and are sending our condolences to her brother Ola, family, and everyone that knew her.” Landstedt has led the Utah Utes to five of the last six NCAA Championships. “You will be missed,” the university ski coach added.
The second victim, Andersson, also had strong ties to the ski community. He worked at the Fýri Resort in Hemsedal and was involved in organizing the Fýri Trail event, part of the international Golden Trail Series.
The deaths of Jordheim and Andersson have left a deep mark on the small community of Hemsedal, and the Nordic skiing world is mourning the death of a stellar athlete and human being.
