World Cup skier Jean Daniel Pession and his girlfriend Elisa Arlian tragically lost their lives after a fall at a mountain in Italy. The couple, aged 28 and 27 respectively, fell from Monte Zerbion, as reported by RAI, Italy’s national broadcasting company. Situated in the northwest part of Italy, the mountain is approximately 108 miles east of Geneva.
The Italian Winter Sports Federation confirmed the deaths of the skiers in a statement on Saturday, describing the incident as a tragedy for the winter sports and speed skiing communities. Pession, a member of the federation, was known for his skiing skills and accomplishments.
The couple fell around 2,300 feet and were discovered tied together later, a technique often used by mountain climbers. Rescuers were able to locate them using their cell phone signal after they were reported missing on the mountain.
Both Pession and Arlian were ski instructors, with Pession achieving a 15th place in the final 2021 World Cup ranking. They were well-respected figures in the skiing world and were preparing to compete at the 2022 World Championships.
Social media was flooded with messages remembering Pession’s legacy, with many fans expressing shock and sadness over the tragic news. Messages of condolences and remembrance poured in from people who had followed Pession’s career and admired his skills as an athlete.