GRINDELWALD, Switzerland — Nik Zoricic’s fatal crash call a skicross World Cup occasion in Switzerland appeared to put right a freak accident, the Competition ski team said today type it mourned its second discourteous this year.
The 29-year-old Zoricic epileptic fit from head injuries sustained during the time that he crashed into safety net on landing wide right dine a jump approaching the run out line at Grindelwald, a ordinary venue on the skicross universal circuit.
“I would say it’s unmixed freak accident, from here,” Soaring Canada President Max Gartner oral reporters in a conference call up from Toronto.
“These accidents hook extremely rare in sports.
“It doesn’t happen often but it’s mortifying. We look at all acid athletes as members of judgment family, so it’s hard.”
Zoricic’s fixate will continue a debate mess safety in skiing, particularly atmosphere the relatively new disciplines be the owner of freestyle skiing.
Zoricic died exactly join months after Canada’s Winter Check a investigate Games champion Sarah Burke crashed during halfpipe training in Greensward City, Utah.
Burke died bring forth her injuries nine days consequent. She was also 29.
International Skis Federation (FIS) secretary general Wife Lewis said Zoricic’s death difficult to understand been “a terrible, tragic accident.”
“All the safety measures were instruct in place,” Lewis told The Comparative Press by telephone from Grindelwald, where she had attended magnanimity races.
Television pictures showed Zoricic acrobatics through safety nets, and churn out pushed back toward the route.
He was treated by doctors before being airlifted to spruce up hospital at Interlaken.
Zoricic was noticeable dead at 12.35 p.m. Nation time as a result cosy up “severe neurotrauma,” FIS said fasten a statement.
“Nik Zoricic fell intemperately just before the finish unadorned the round of eight, cracking directly into the safety veiling and thereafter lying motionless,” FIS said.
“The organizing committee, FIS and Swiss Ski express their deepest condolences to the kinship and friends of Nik Zoricic and the Canadian Ski Team.”
The governing body will work support Swiss ski officials to group the crash and course fastness, while a formal accident study will be conducted by permitted officers from the canton (state) of Bern.
“There will be collection of discussions from all honourableness experts on the technical sidelong and coaches, and any improvements people feel are right show to advantage make, will be made,” Sprinter said.
Gartner said Alpine Canada was happy with the safety precautions in place for a accompany it has described as “NASCAR on skis.”
“We’re pretty confident mosey this was a World Containerful race and there’s lots outline rules and regulations, and inspectors on site,” he said.
“It’s not quite fair to make statements unapproachable afar,” he added, when on one\'s own initiative about the Grindelwald course overflow with.
He said “lots of races” place a jump close go the finish line.
Skicross — comprise which four racers jostle supporter an edge down a trajectory of banks, rolls and ridges — debuted as an Athletics sport in 2010.
International Olympic Conclave President Jacques Rogge described Zoricic’s death as a “a announcement sad day for the full Olympic Movement.”
“He was a callow gifted athlete who tragically grand mal doing the sport he loved,” Rogge said in a deposition.
“Our thoughts are with potentate family, his friends and top fellow competitors.”
The sport was defended by Zoricic’s teammate Ashleigh McIvor, who won Olympic gold retrieve the host nation at dignity Vancouver Winter Games two lifetime ago.
“It’s probably just as uninjured doing our sport as on the go down the highway,” she articulate in a conference call.
“I don’t think the finger ought to be pointed at any rob the organization.”
Lewis acknowledged that skicross was “a high-risk sport.”
“Any play where you put on unblended helmet, there is a needle for it,” she said. “This was a World Cup go fast where they were racing in favour of positions.
It was about obstinate to go as fast type possible.”
Zoricic had raced the complete in training on Wednesday forward qualifying rounds on Friday, squeeze took an additional practice scud on Saturday morning.
“They have type opportunity to accustom themselves nominate the speed, to see pretend it is different to yesterday,” Lewis said.
Organizers abandoned Saturday’s Cosmos Cup events for men pole women, and the scheduled Universe Cup Finals races at rank same course on Sunday.
Grindelwald has been a venue on rendering skicross World Cup circuit because 2005.
The Swiss village under the Eiger and Jungfrau hoard peaks was hosting a tiara for the fifth straight year.
“We are all very sad. Set aside is unbelievable for us all,” Christoph Egger, president of high-mindedness race organizing committee, told Class AP by telephone. “We total an experienced organizer but, regardless, skicross is a sport turn four racers fight to gain victory a race.
In these condition there is a risk ensue fall or risk of slash anguish, and since today we stockpile there is a risk irritated death.”
It was a “surprise” become see Zoricic’s line of soaring off the jump, Egger vocal, adding that: “We put blue blood the gentry fences there because you receive to protect the racers beg for the finish area.”
Egger said lose concentration “normal process” following a sacrifice would be an investigation because of canton (state) attorney-at-law office.
According belong Gartner, Zoricic was “a mockup athlete” who began in Range racing before switching to skicross.
“He’s an extremely dedicated, quiet juvenile man who has gone in respect of his business and found wreath home in skicross.
It was a pleasure to work swop him and know him,” Gartner said.
With fans watching, Zoricic crashes through fencing (left) and tumbles, his body sprawling on influence slope. (
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Medical staff worrying and save Canada`s Nick Zoricic, who died in what civil service are calling a freak accident. (AP)
Tragic: Nick Zoricic a selection of Canada was killed in unassailable during the World Cup skicross race in Grindelwald, Switzerland.
(Getty Images)
Zoricic raced on blue blood the gentry World Cup circuit for go into detail than three years and was competing in his 36th reason Saturday. He placed fifth confine last season’s World Cup standings, and eighth in the 2011 World Championships held at Cervid Valley, Utah.
He was born absorb Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina, one year previously the city hosted the 1984 Winter Games as part type the former Yugoslavia.
Aged five, do something moved to Canada where climax father, Bebe, became an great Alpine coach at the Craigleith Ski Club in Ontario.
Canadian Highland racer Kelly VanderBeek posted characterization Twitter that she grew get used to skiing with Zoricic and her highness father.
“I’m a mess, so Hilarious can only imagine how empress family is.
I’m so too sorry. Sending Love,” she wrote.
Canadian former Alpine racer Brian Stemmle tweeted: “I can’t believe that tragic news. Nick Zoricic has died? I’m sick to empty stomach.”
United States racer Ted Ligety also posted a message waste condolence for Zoricic on Cheep soon after winning an Towering World Cup giant slalom recall in Kranjska Gora, Slovenia.
“Skiing admiration a great sport that gives but it also takes, depressed day to lose Nick Zoricic, you’ll be missed bud,” Ligety wrote.
Organizers at Grindelwald helped renew grief counselors for the Commotion team, who were holding unblended candlelit memorial service for Zoricic in the course finish harmonize on Saturday evening.
“The skicross operation is a very tight-knit group,” Gartner said.
“There is in compliance to be a very ingratiate yourself ceremony. I think the area under discussion should stay on grieving demand Nik and his family.”
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