Fears for Canadian halfpipe skier after traumatic crash on same superpipe that killed Sarah Burke one year ago
Canadian halfpipe skier Simon d'Artois has been airlifted to a Utah hospital after falling hard on his head and shoulder on the same run that killed freestyle pioneer Sarah Burke last year.
U.S. Grand Prix spokeswoman Krista Parry says d'Artois was awake and alert on Saturday after blacking out for about 10 seconds when he smacked his head during a fall at the U.S. Grand Prix.
D'Artois of Whistler fell near the end of the 22-foot Eagle superpipe at Park City Mountain Resort before being airlifted to the University of Utah hospital.
Traumatic fall: In a slide of photos Canadian skier Simon d'Artois slides down a slope during the halfpipe freestyle skiing competition at the U.S. Grand Prix on Saturday
Condition: D'Artois was reported to have been found unconscious by rescue workers immediately after taking his tumble
Quick help: D'Artois was immediately aided by emergency personnel after the crash that was on the same run that freestyle pioneer Sarah Burke fatally injured herself on last year
Relief: An emergency workers prepare a neck brace for the fallen skier who is said to have suffered a concussion
He was seen wearing a neck brace as he was taken off the hill on a medical sled while flashing a ‘rock on’ sign with his right hand.
Five of the 12 men in the finals fell on Saturday with France's Benoit Valentin appearing to injure his left knee.
Ms Burke, 29, a four-time Winter X Games gold medalist, crashed on the same halfpipe last year as d’Artois while she was training. She died a week later from the injuries.
It was the same halfpipe where snowboarder Kevin Pearce was critically injured during training on December of 2009.
Pearce has gone on to resume riding but is no longer competing.
Responding: D'Artois responds to medical personnel around him who hold his head in a neck brace
Recovery: The skier from Whistler, Canada, is expected to make a full recovery according to the Canadian Freestyle Ski Association
Previous tragedy: In January of 2012 Sarah Burke, seen during a 2008 competition, died from her injuries sustained on the same halfpipe d'Artois fell on on Saturday
The dangers of winter action sports came into focus again this week when 25-year-old freestyle snowmobile rider Caleb Moore died after a crash at the Winter X Games in Colorado.
D’Artois is expected to make a full recovery according to Kelley Korbin, manager of media relations for Canadian Freestyle Ski Association according to sports writer Chris Kamrani of the Salt Lake Tribune.
She said a CT scan was normal but d'Artois continues to experience concussion symptoms.
He will remain in the hospital, likely overnight, until he feels better. The skier's father is with him at the hospital.
Extreme sports: Last week snowmobile rider Caleb Moore was killed after a crash during the snowmoblie freestyle event at the Winter X Games in Aspen, Colorado
Tragic turn: Moore, center, was helped off the snow following his crash but died on Thursday after suffering complications from injuries suffered during the crash
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