Rigby, a native of Vermont and resident of Utah, began her skiing career as a teenager. In 1995, she joined The North Face Athlete Team and skied all over the world with them until 2012.
“During those 17 years, she put up many first ski descents, created lasting friendships and encouraged the next generation of explorers,” the company said about Rigby in a tribute shared on Instagram following her death. “She is remembered by our team as a pioneer on and off the mountain, with an authenticity and strength that inspired everyone she met. Our thoughts go out to Kasha’s family and friends.”
In 1998, Rigby appeared on the cover of the inaugural issue of Women Outside magazine, which dubbed her “the best female telemark skier in the known universe.” Throughout her career, she completed the first ski descents of several peaks in places like Lebanon and Kamchatka in Russia and also explored and descended peaks in Siberia, Bolivia and Ecuador.
She also brought her talents to the screen, appearing in projects such as the 2001 documentary film Cold Fusion and the National Geographic Channel series Ultimate Survival Alaska in 2015.
