Kasha Rigby

{{Infobox person

| name = Kasha Rigby

| image = Kasha Rigby.jpg

| birth_name = Catherine Rigby

| birth_date = {{Birth year|1970}}

| birth_place = Stowe, Vermont, U.S.

| death_date = {{Death date and given age|2024|2|13|54}}

| death_place = near Brezovica, Kosovo

| occupation = Competitive skier

| known_for = Extreme telemark skiing

| partner = Magnus Wolfe Murray

}}

Catherine "Kasha" Rigby (1970 – February 13, 2024) was an American competitive skier from Utah.[http://www.thenorthface.com/na/athletes/athletes-KR.html The North Face – Athletes – Kasha Rigby] She is most noted for her many achievements and first descents as "the pioneer of extreme telemark skiing."{{Cite web |url=http://outsideonline.com/outside/magazine/0296/9602disk.html |title=Skiing: Give Me Liberty...and a Lot of Monster Air {{!}} Outside Online |access-date=2010-09-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100919001057/http://outsideonline.com/outside/magazine/0296/9602disk.html |archive-date=2010-09-19 |url-status=dead }}

Biography

Kasha Rigby was born in Stowe, Vermont. She started skiing when she was very young. and began telemark skiing as a teenager. She began traveling at age 19, leaving college to explore Africa. She then headed to Crested Butte, Colorado, where she became involved in telemark racing and extreme-skiing competitions.Dandelion magazine, V.1, N.4

Rigby joined The North Face Ski Team in 1995 and has since skied in America, Canada, South America, New Zealand, Russia, Asia, Europe, India and even the Middle East. She skied first descents of some of the world's tallest/hardest peaks, including the Five Holy Peaks in Mongolia.[http://www.snowquest.com/crew/rigby1.html Meet The Crew]

Outside magazine credited her as being: "the best female telemark skier in the known universe", when she appeared on the cover of Women Outside in Fall 1998.{{Cite web |url=http://outsideonline.com/outside/magazine/wofall98/wof.html |title=Outside Online Archives {{!}} Outside Online |access-date=2010-09-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100919001143/http://outsideonline.com/outside/magazine/wofall98/wof.html |archive-date=2010-09-19 |url-status=dead }}

In her 50s, she became engaged to Magnus Wolfe Murray. On February 13, 2024, she was skiing at the Brezovica ski resort in Kosovo on her "Tour de Piste", when she died in an avalanche. Rigby was 54 years old.{{Cite web |last=Hallberg |first=Tom |last2=Close |first2=Greta |date=2024-02-15 |title=Teleskier, Humanitarian Kasha Rigby Leaves a Legacy of Uplifting Others |url=https://backcountrymagazine.com/stories/teleskier-humanitarian-kasha-rigby-leaves-a-legacy-of-uplifting-others/ |access-date=2024-02-15 |website=Backcountry Magazine |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Benavides |first=Angela |date=2024-02-15 |title=Top U.S. Skier Kasha Rigby Dies in Kosovo Avalanche » Explorersweb |url=https://explorersweb.com/kasha-rigby-dies-kosovo-avalanche/ |access-date=2024-02-15 |website=Explorersweb}}{{Cite web |last=Shafer |first=Sierra |date=2024-02-14 |title=New Details Emerge in Avalanche Death of Pioneering Skier Kasha Rigby |url=https://www.skimag.com/news/kasha-rigby-death-kosovo-avalanche/ |access-date=2024-02-15 |website=SKI |language=en-US}}

Career highlights

Climb and ski descent of Cho Oyu 26,907 ft (8201m) (credited as the first telemark descent){{Cite web |url=http://www.thenorthface.com/na/expeditions/expeditions-2005-chooyu.html |title=The North Face - Cho Oyu, Tibet |access-date=2007-04-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061112083315/http://www.thenorthface.com/na/expeditions/expeditions-2005-chooyu.html |archive-date=2006-11-12 |url-status=dead }}{{Cite web |url=http://outsideonline.com/outside/culture/200610/power-of-two-1.html |title=The Power of Two {{!}} Outside Online |access-date=2010-09-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100919000233/http://outsideonline.com/outside/culture/200610/power-of-two-1.html |archive-date=2010-09-19 |url-status=dead }}{{Cite web |url=http://www.bdel.com/scene/athletes/kasha_rigby.php |title=Black Diamond Equipment, Ltd. - Bios |access-date=April 5, 2007 |archive-date=January 28, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070128155206/http://www.bdel.com/scene/athletes/kasha_rigby.php |url-status=dead }}{{Cite web |url=http://www.biglines.com/articles_readmore.php?article=1&read=2480 |title=Biglines.Com {{!}} Cho Oyu Blog Update |access-date=2007-04-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071008084603/http://www.biglines.com/articles_readmore.php?article=1&read=2480 |archive-date=2007-10-08 |url-status=dead }}
Mongolia Women's Ski Expedition: first ski descents of the Five Holy Peaks of Tavan Bogd (including Kuitan, the highest peak in Mongolia){{Cite web |url=http://www.thenorthface.com/na/expeditions/expeditions-2002-mongolia.html |title=The North Face - All-Women Mongolia Expedition |access-date=2007-04-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928011625/http://www.thenorthface.com/na/expeditions/expeditions-2002-mongolia.html |archive-date=2007-09-28 |url-status=dead }}
Mt. Waddington Ski Expedition: descent of Mt. Waddington and Combatant Couloir, British Columbia[http://www.marksynnott.com/expeditions/waddington.shtml Mark Synnott :: Expeditions : Mt. Waddington]{{Cite web |url=http://www.thenorthface.com/na/expeditions/expeditions-2001-waddington.html |title=The North Face - Mt. Waddington Expedition |access-date=2007-04-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061112083434/http://www.thenorthface.com/na/expeditions/expeditions-2001-waddington.html |archive-date=2006-11-12 |url-status=dead }}
Yukon Territories to Dry Bay, Alaska, ski exploration, accessed from the Tatshenshini River{{Cite web |url=http://www.paddlermagazine.com/issues/2002_3/article_185.shtml |title=Paddler magazine online : Skiers Use Rafts to Access Tat Descents |access-date=2007-04-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061016205024/https://www.paddlermagazine.com/issues/2002_3/article_185.shtml |archive-date=2006-10-16 |url-status=dead }}
Hanuman Tibba Women's Expedition: first ski descent of RFHP, a 2500m couloir in the Himachal Pradesh region of India{{Cite web |url=http://www.thenorthface.com/na/expeditions/expeditions-2001-hanumantiba.html |title=The North Face - A Woman's Ski Descent of Hanuman Tiba |access-date=2007-04-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061112083405/http://www.thenorthface.com/na/expeditions/expeditions-2001-hanumantiba.html |archive-date=2006-11-12 |url-status=dead }}{{Cite web |url=http://www.alisongannett.com/display.php?id=5 |title=Alison Gannett |access-date=2007-04-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070220092158/http://www.alisongannett.com/display.php?id=5 |archive-date=2007-02-20 |url-status=dead }}Skiing magazine, February 2002
Kamchatka Women's Ski Expedition: First ski descent of Mt. Udina & Mt. Zimina, as well as the first female ski descent of Mt. Tolbachik (all telemarked){{Cite web |url=http://www.thenorthface.com/na/expeditions/expeditions-2000-kamchatka.html |title=The North Face - Kamchatka Expedition 2000 |access-date=2007-04-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061112083454/http://www.thenorthface.com/na/expeditions/expeditions-2000-kamchatka.html |archive-date=2006-11-12 |url-status=dead }}SKIING Magazine, Feb 2004Off-Piste Magazine, Iss. XVII, March 2003[http://www.muscle-fitness-france.com/348.html Muscle & Fitness France - FEMMES DE L'EXTRÊME]
Lebanon Ski Expedition: ski descent of Qornet as-Sawda, 3090m, traverse of the Mt. Lebanon Range{{Cite web |url=http://www.skileb.com/adminc/anm/templates/skileb-article.asp?articleid=35&zoneid=1 |title=Ski Lebanon Adventure by Sarah Ferguson |access-date=2007-04-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070219010940/http://www.skileb.com/adminc/anm/templates/skileb-article.asp?articleid=35&zoneid=1 |archive-date=2007-02-19 |url-status=dead }}British Geographical Magazine, Feb 2000
Mt. Belukha: ski exploration and descent of the highest peaks in Siberia{{Cite web |url=http://www.thenorthface.com/na/athletes/athletes-KR-interview.html |title=The North Face - Athlete to Athlete Interview - Kasha Rigby |access-date=2007-04-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061112084324/http://www.thenorthface.com/na/athletes/athletes-KR-interview.html |archive-date=2006-11-12 |url-status=dead }} (photos)[http://classic.mountainzone.com/features/99/altai/post-gallery/photos/photo16.html MountainZone.com | Altai Ski and Snowboard Post Expedition Gallery]
Cotopaxi (5897m) and Chimborazo (6310m) volcanoes of Ecuador: ski descent of world's highest active volcano{{Cite web |url=http://www.stellarmag.com/features/skiing_volcano_ecuador_394032 |title=Stellar: Lifestyle by Adventure - Feature: Pregnant with Snow |access-date=2007-04-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070222034026/http://www.stellarmag.com/features/skiing_volcano_ecuador_394032 |archive-date=2007-02-22 |url-status=dead }}
Multiple first descents along Gibb's Fjord, Baffin Island{{Cite web |url=http://www.thenorthface.com/na/expeditions/expeditions-2005-baffin.html |title=The North Face - Baffin Island Kite and Ski Expedition |access-date=2007-04-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061112083401/http://www.thenorthface.com/na/expeditions/expeditions-2005-baffin.html |archive-date=2006-11-12 |url-status=dead }}[web.archive.org/web/20061115131722/http://www.exploreepic.com/expeditions/aug06/baffin.shtml {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061115131722/http://www.exploreepic.com/expeditions/aug06/baffin.shtml |date=2006-11-15 }} - Outdoor sports Resources and Information. Archive ][http://www.powdermag.com/features/baffinpreview/ OFF TO THE ICE: North Face Baffin Island expedition underway]{{Cite web |url=http://www.thepoles.com/story/ArcticwrapupSnowstormspoundfemaleteamsMay122005.shtml |title=South Pole, North Pole News and Guide |access-date=2007-04-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061128130649/http://www.thepoles.com/story/ArcticwrapupSnowstormspoundfemaleteamsMay122005.shtml |archive-date=2006-11-28 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |url=http://mountaingazette.com/index2.php?date=2006-01-01 |title=Mountain Gazette |accessdate=2007-04-05 |url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070414170221/http://www.mountaingazette.com/index2.php?date=2006-01-01 |archivedate=2007-04-14 }}[http://www.powdermag.com/features/news/baffin_update1/index.html NANUK! - Never underestimate the powers of an Inuit man and his snowmobile]
Ski and kite Greenland{{Cite web |url=http://www.focusproductions.com/HTML/skier_pages/skier4.htm |title=Figenshau and Griber Kite Couliors in Greenland |access-date=April 5, 2007 |archive-date=March 3, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303204302/http://www.focusproductions.com/HTML/skier_pages/skier4.htm |url-status=dead }}[http://www.a1.tv/totaladventure_highlights.shtml A1 – Asia]Skiing magazine, November 2003
21 peaks in 21 days Bolivia{{Cite web |url=http://www.thenorthface.com/na/expeditions/expeditions-2006-bolivia.html |title=The North Face - Ultimate Bolivian Peak Bagger |access-date=2007-04-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928011536/http://www.thenorthface.com/na/expeditions/expeditions-2006-bolivia.html |archive-date=2007-09-28 |url-status=dead }}
Trek of frozen Zanskar River – Ladakh, India{{Cite web |url=http://www.thenorthface.com/na/expeditions/expeditions-2007-zanskar.html |title=The North Face - Zanskar - Chadar Ice Trek |access-date=2007-04-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070329021629/http://www.thenorthface.com/na/expeditions/expeditions-2007-zanskar.html |archive-date=2007-03-29 |url-status=dead }}

Films and videos

1997 Scott Gaffney's Breathe
1999 Higher on the Mountain [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0764646/plotsummary Higher on the Mountain (1999) (V) - Plot summary]
2001 Warren Miller's Cold Fusion[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0283291/ Cold Fusion (2001)]
2001 Transworld Television: Ski Nomads: A Traverse of Lebanon {{Cite web |url=http://www.skiingfromtheinside.com/Lebanon_page_1.html |title=Lebanon |access-date=2007-04-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070619025846/http://www.skiingfromtheinside.com/Lebanon_page_1.html |archive-date=2007-06-19 |url-status=dead }}
2001 OLN Adventure Series Mystery Mountain
2004 Incognito: Total Telemark 4 [http://www.telemarktips.com/RevIncogVid.html Telemark Movie Incognito Review]
2006 Shelter from the Storm{{Cite web |url=http://www.vailfilmfestival.org/program/sports.shtml |title=Vail Film Festival |access-date=2007-04-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070602113950/http://www.vailfilmfestival.org/program/sports.shtml |archive-date=2007-06-02 |url-status=dead }}[http://tvshows.aol.com/episode/shelter-from-the-storm/north-face-expedition/EP4278630001 Shelter From the Storm North Face Expedition – AOL Television]{{Dead link|date=March 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
2009 Edge of Never {{Cite web |url=http://www.edgeofneverfilm.com/cast/ |title=Edge of Never (film) cast (retrieved 1/16/2011) |access-date=2011-01-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101105040518/http://www.edgeofneverfilm.com/cast/ |archive-date=2010-11-05 |url-status=dead }}
2015 Ultimate Survival Alaska, Season 3 [https://web.archive.org/web/20150313204734/http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/ultimate-survival-alaska/articles/kasha-rigby/ National Geographic]

References

External links

[http://www.kasharigby.com Personal Website]
[https://archive.today/20070929034530/http://www.insideoutsidemag.com/archives/departments/2003/11/your_personal_trainer.asp?archive_month=11&archive_year=2003 Inside Outside Magazine Interview]
[https://web.archive.org/web/20100919001057/http://outsideonline.com/outside/magazine/0296/9602disk.html Outside magazine story]
[https://web.archive.org/web/20150313204734/http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/ultimate-survival-alaska/articles/kasha-rigby/ Ultimate Survival Alaska, Season 3]

Category:1970 births

Category:2024 deaths

Category:American female alpine skiers

Category:Skiers from Vermont

Category:Sportspeople from Utah

Category:Deaths in avalanches

Category:American female freestyle skiers