He passed away following a tragic accident where he slipped and banged his head, and never woke up. Just a day or two earlier, he was watching his daughter win another World Cup skiing event.

Life can be so cruel. “My family is heartbroken beyond comprehension about the unexpected passing of my kind-hearted, loving, caring, patient, wonderful father. Our mountains, our ocean, our sunrise, our heart, our soul, our everything. He taught us so many valuable lessons...” tweeted Mikaela about her father, a 65-year-old anaesthesiologist.

“But above everything else, he taught us the golden rule: be nice, think first. This is something I will carry with me forever. He was the firm foundation of our family and we miss him terribly … Thank you, from the depths of my heart, for respecting my family’s privacy as we grieve during this unimaginable and devastating time.”

Jeff was a fixture on the slopes, but never interfered with Mikaela’s progress as she grew into a world-class talent. He did not get too close to the action, but was always there at her beckon call, usually with camera in hand to capture the action.

I hope Mikaela can stay strong during what is undoubtedly a tough time and return to action soon. As my late, great dad once told me, work hard, play harder and do the things you enjoy to the max.