Hansi Brenninger, R.I.P.: Aspen Ski Instructor Killed During Ski Trip With Son

There's a common misconception that those who are killed at ski resorts must be beginners who took on challenges beyond their skill set.

The story of Hansi Brenninger proves that this theory isn't universally true.

Brenninger was an expert skier — so much so that he reportedly worked as a ski instructor at Aspen Mountain.

But he's now been identified as the victim of an accident at Park City Mountain ski area in Utah over the weekend.

As word of Brenninger's death began to circulate, a friend Facebooked the following YouTube video of Brenninger and Christophe Rech tackling a bowl at Aspen Highlands circa 2012. The clip demonstrates what a great skier Brenninger was.


His ability made what happened on Saturday morning that much more shocking.

According to a Park City Police Department release accessed by the Aspen Times, emergency crews responded early Saturday, April 2, to a report of a man who'd collided with a tree on an expert run while skiing with his son, Max, who's in the seventh grade.

A Flight for Life crew was among the personnel that arrived at 10:20 a.m.

However, Brenninger succumbed to his injuries before he could be transported to an area hospital.


The Times notes that Brenninger was a full-time instructor at Aspen Mountain's ski school.

He'd previously taught skiing in his native Australia, as well as in Europe.

In addition, he worked at Joshua & Co., an Aspen real-estate firm.

Here's his online bio.

Born and educated in Australia...after teaching skiing around the world for a good stint, I worked for some of Australia's largest and most successful Real Estate Development companies in Queensland, Hong Kong and Taiwan. Marketing, sales, advertising and construction experience was gained during this time.

During the later part of the 90's my wife and I owned and managed a corporate and special events business and hosted large corporate groups in Aspen/Snowmass. I also put together boutique, specially tailored ski trips to Austria, France, Switzerland, Italy and Germany. During that time we also ran the Wild Dash for Cash, a series of iconic Aspen event's that gained major publicity.

In 2003 I returned to the Real Estate industry in Aspen Colorado where I was with a number of smaller firms before joining Joshua & Co, the exclusive Christie's affiliate, where I have been to date.

Specialties: Real estate marketing sales and advertising, skiing, soccer coaching and event planning. Other than English, I am fluent in German and speak some French. I am an artist in my spare time and work mainly with wood, steel and bronze. I am also an avid photographer.

Those mourning Brenninger include Max, his high-school-age daughter, Emily, and wife Kelley, whose posts after the accident have been poignant in the extreme.

They include this photo....

...plus a shot of the two of them....

...accompanied by three simple words: "I love him."

Our sincere condolences to the friends, family and loved ones of Hansi Brenninger.