Estelle Balet: Snowboarding champion killed in avalanche during film shoot

Balet had only recently won a world championship title

World champion Switzerland's Estelle Balet celebrating with champagne after she won the women's snowboard event at the Bec des Rosses during the Verbier Xtreme Freeride World Tour final above the Swiss Alps resort of Verbie (Getty Images)

Swiss snowboarding champion Estelle Balet has been killed in an avalanche during a film shoot in Switzerland. She was 21-years-old.

Balet died when the snow slide struck on Tuesday morning above Orsieres, near the Swiss border with France and Italy, as she was speeding down a slope.

Valais police said Balet was following another snowboarder who was not caught in the avalanche. A rescue team managed to free Balet but she was pronounced dead at the scene.

Balet won the Freeride World Tour just weeks before her death. Freeride praised her as a “naturally gifted shining star” who demonstrated “remarkable” talent.

"The Freeride community has experienced a tremendous loss today as we learned that one of the most hopeful young talents and current snowboard World Champion, Estelle Balet, has tragically passed away in an avalanche," the Freeride series said in a statement on its website.

“Our thoughts are with the family and friends of Estelle Balet as we send our deepest sympathy and condolences during this very difficult time.”

Additional reporting by agencies