Smaine, who won the halfpipe event at the 2015 Freestyle Ski and Snowboarding World Championships in Kreischberg, Austria, was on a trip with friends when the tragic accident happened.

In an Instagram post Smaine’s friend Grant Gunderson described the incident as an "absolute worst case nightmare scenario."

Gunderson wrote: "It was supposed to be the last day of the trip so we were just out for a mellow tour to freeski, as we had one of the best days ever skiing/shooting the day before."

Describing the incident he added: "A second skier from the other group {in the transition area} triggered an avalanche that stepped down into a massive avalanche (two metres deep crown) on an adjacent slope.

"The slope that they had now done two runs on didn’t slide."

Smaine and two people he was with tried to run, before Smaine was "thrown 50 metres by the air blast and buried and killed."

In a message paying tribute on its Instagram page the United States Freeski Team said: "Today we lost an incredible person, friend, skier and teammate to the mountains.

"Kyle Smaine was a world champion freeskier, loved exploring the mountains, was a fierce competitor but an even better person and friend.

"We along with so many others send our love and comfort to his family, friends and community." 

One of the people Smaine was with was also buried and died from internal injuries while the other was rescued, and reportedly escaped unscathed.

Search teams reported that Smaine and another individual found dead had experienced cardio-respiratory arrest.

Snow and avalanche warnings are currently in place for the region.