Snowboarder Ueli Kestenholz died after being trapped in an avalanche, the Swiss ski federation said Tuesday.

The 50-year-old won a bronze medal in the sport's first Winter Olympic race in 1998.

Kestenholz was snowboarding with a friend who was skiing Sunday (January 11) in the Lotschental valley of Valais canton.

The avalanche suddenly started at an altitude of 2,400 meters (7,900 feet) for unknown reasons, Valais police said in a statement.

Kestenholz, a father-of-two, was trapped by snow and helped by his friend before being airlifted by helicopter to the hospital, first to Visp then to Sion, which is close to Crans-Montana where the fatal New Year's Eve fire occured.

Swiss daily Berner Zeitung first reported Tuesday the victim was Kestenholz.

Kestenholz showing his bronze medal after the Olympic Games (Image: AP)

In tribute the Swiss-Ski Federation wrote: "His life was far too short. An avalanche last Sunday in the Lötschental valley proved fatal for the father of two. Swiss-Ski and the snowboard community are devastated."

Swiss-Ski President Peter Barandun said: "We extend our deepest condolences to Ueli's family and loved ones"

Kestenholz was third in snowboard giant slalom at the 1998 Nagano Olympics - a debut event that became a story of the games when Canadian gold medalist Ross Rebagliati fought to keep his title after a positive test for cannabis.

The Swiss racer competed at two more Winter Games, was a two-time snowboardcross champion at the X-Games and continued a professional career in extreme sports.

Kestenholz (right) before being awarded his medal at the games (Image: AP)

In a Tamedia interview two years ago, Kestenholz said: "I skateboarded, I was a windsurfer, but I only skied in the winter, and on two planks.

"Snowboarding offered the opportunity to experience my favourite feeling, gliding sideways, even in winter." But there were other advantages: "In the fall, we trained on the glacier at the same time as the skiers. They had to be back at the hotel by 9 p.m., and lights out was at 10 p.m. We set off at that time—and were back by 4 a.m."

Recent posts on his Instagram account included film of Kestenholz paragliding and landing on frozen lakes near St. Moritz.

He wrote: "To enjoy those rare moments when nature's wonders align you need to be ready to drop everything and go!"