Canadian, US skiers airlifted to hospital after training session crash

Posted: 12.28.2010 at 10:05 AM

Marco Sullivan / AP photo

BORMIO, Italy (AP) — Canadian skier Louis-Pierre Helie and Marco Sullivan of the United States were both airlifted to a local hospital after crashing in a World Cup downhill training session Tuesday.

Helie's crash was more serious, involving a hard landing, and he was picked up from the icy Stelvio course by a helicopter. The Canadian team said he suffered a head injury.

Sullivan, the first skier out of the gate, lost control while landing a jump midway down. He eventually got up and skied down under his own power, and then was brought by helicopter to a hospital in Sondalo.

Sullivan was being checked for head injuries, but appeared to suffer no broken bones or other injuries.

Later, organizers said arrangements were being made to airlift both skiers to a hospital in Innsbruck, Austria, that specializes in dealing with head injuries.

According to U.S. Ski Team medical director Kyle Wilkens, Sullivan was conscious and alert, but will remain hospitalized for further observation.

With Sullivan almost certain to miss Wednesday's race, it's another blow to a U.S. squad already missing two other downhillers.

Andrew Weibrecht is skipping this race after dislocating his left shoulder in training last week, and Erik Fisher has a bruised knee after hooking a downhill gate in Val Gardena earlier this month.

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