[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 13 (Tuesday, January 27, 2015)]
[House]
[Page H586]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               REMEMBERING RONNIE BERLACK AND BRYCE ASTLE

  (Ms. KUSTER asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. KUSTER. Madam Speaker, today I rise to honor the lives of Ronnie 
Berlack and Bryce Astle, two members of the United States Ski Team who 
were taken from us far too soon by a tragic avalanche while training in 
Austria in early January.
  These two young men dedicated themselves to representing our country 
with skill and dignity as members of the national ski team. They were 
both very talented. But, sadly, we will never know how high their stars 
may have risen.
  Ronnie and Bryce touched many others with their love of life, their 
drive to compete, and their commitment to their teammates. Ronnie was a 
native of Franconia, New Hampshire, the same town that produced skiing 
great Bode Miller. He started skiing at Cannon Mountain before 
attending Burke Mountain Academy in Vermont and coming into his own as 
a talented ski racer. Bryce spent most of his childhood in Utah, where 
he spent weekends skiing with his family at Alta and Snowbird. They 
first met while competing against each other in FIS races, before 
training together last summer and becoming great friends.
  In the wake of this horrible tragedy, everyone who knew these two 
young men has spoken to their integrity, their adventurous spirits, and 
their big, big hearts. They spent their lives working hard at the thing 
they loved the most. My heart goes out to their family, their many, 
many friends, and the entire ski racing community.

                          ____________________