Champion U.S. Freestyle Skier , Kyle Smaine , Dies in Avalanche.br 'The Independent' reports that United States br champion freestyle skier Kyle Smaine br has died in an avalanche in Japan.br 'The Independent' reports that United States br champion freestyle skier Kyle Smaine br has died in an avalanche in Japan.br Previously, Smaine had written on Instagram that br he had traveled to Japan to take advantage br of "unbelievable snow quality.".br This is what brings me br back to Japan each winter, Kyle Smaine, via Instagram.br Smaine had added that Japan had , “really fun terrain that seems to get br better [the] more exploring you do”.br In 2015, Smaine won gold in the halfpipe br at the FIS Freestyle Ski and br Snowboarding World Championships.br In 2015, Smaine won gold in the halfpipe br at the FIS Freestyle Ski and br Snowboarding World Championships.br On January 29, Smaine was in br Nagano Prefecture on Honshu Island br when the avalanche occurred.br According to Nagano police, as many as five people from the U.S. and Austria were caught in the avalanche, which occurred on the eastern side of Mount Hakuba Norikura.br Authorities said that of the five men skiing on the mountain, br three were able to climb down on their own, while br Smaine and another unnamed skier were not. .br Authorities said that of the five men skiing on the mountain, br three were able to climb down on their own, while br Smaine and another unnamed skier were not. .br Reuters reported that both men br were found without vital signs.