Two Polish Skiers Killed in Avalanche in Slovakia's High Tatras

A tragic accident in the High Tatras, which claimed the lives of two experienced Polish citizens, has shocked Polish public opinion and the mountain community. The victims are 41-year-old Ali Olszański, considered a legend of Polish snowboarding and ski mountaineering, and 31-year-old Marek Patola, an experienced ski mountaineer. The incident occurred on Wednesday evening in the Mięguszowiecka Valley, on the Slovak side of the Tatras. The men possessed professional avalanche equipment, including backpacks with airbag systems, but the force of nature proved too great. The death of the ski mountaineers has prompted numerous expressions of support for the families, but also controversy related to the last report published by Olszański on social media. Although lower than the Alps, the Tatras are characterized by very dynamic weather changes and high avalanche activity, making them the only mountains of an alpine character in Central Europe. Since the beginning of the 20th century, accident statistics in this region consistently point to avalanches as the main cause of death among experienced climbers and skiers.The Slovak Horská záchranná služba (HZS) conducted a rescue and search operation, but it was too late to help. The Slovak HZS services distanced themselves from Olszański's social media report, clarifying that they do not task private individuals with assessing avalanche danger, which at the time was at a high, third degree. The services emphasize that a subjective sense of safety can be deceptive, especially in the case of freeriding. The tragic death of the ski mountaineers is a reminder of the absolute necessity to respect avalanche danger levels, even for those with the highest qualifications and hundreds of high-mountain expeditions completed. „Podmienky v horách sú momentálne mimoriadne zradné a žiadny stupeň skúseností nezaručuje prežitie v prípade lavíny takého rozsahu.” (Conditions in the mountains are currently exceptionally treacherous, and no level of experience guarantees survival in the event of an avalanche of such magnitude.) — HZS Rescuers The deceased skiers were described by loved ones and friends as exceptionally brave, talented, and dedicated to their passion. The death of Ali Olszański marks the end of an era in the Polish snowboarding scene, where he was a pioneer of a modern approach to the mountains. At the same time, sports media reports are emerging about the mood ahead of the Ski Flying World Cup in Bad Mitterndorf, where Poles are set to compete. These two extreme moods – sadness over the loss in the Tatras and sporting excitement at the mammoth ski jump – currently dominate the Polish information space concerning winter sports and mountain activities.