BORMIO, Italy (AP) — The Bormio World Cup super-G got off to an alarming start on Sunday as Swiss skier Gino Caviezel became the third competitor to be airlifted to the hospital following serious incidents on the notoriously challenging Stelvio slope. Just one day after French skier Cyprien Sarrazin was taken off the course for urgent treatment due to severe injuries, Caviezel’s crash raised alarm bells about the safety of the slope, which is slated to host events during the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Fredrik Moeller of Norway, showcasing remarkable skill, claimed his first World Cup victory, but the celebrations were overshadowed by the grim reality faced by his fellow competitors. Moeller finished his race with an impressive time, 0.20 seconds faster than Austria’s Vincent Kriechmayr, making his win particularly sweet after he had previously never reached the podium.
Caviezel's unfortunate incident occurred just 45 seconds after he began his run. He lost one of his skis at a gate before the San Pietro Jump, leading him to slide down the slope, where he lay incapacitated until medical responders arrived. Emergency teams quickly administered care before evacuators took him via helicopter to the hospital.
This dramatic event followed Sarrazin's harrowing accident on Friday, where he suffered significant head injuries after crashing during training, requiring emergency surgery to address bleeding near his brain. A representative from the Federation Francaise de Ski confirmed, “Cyprien Sarrazin underwent surgery last night to decompress an intra-cranial haematoma. The operation went well, but he remains under anaesthetic for the time being,” reported AP.
Italy’s Pietro Zazzi also found himself on the flight to the hospital after sustaining leg injuries on the same perilous course. Overall, this weekend saw ten athletes from the top 40 World Cup start list sidelined due to injuries, raising questions about course management and safety standards. Even more, four additional competitors withdrew shortly before the event, signaling reluctance to risk their safety on such questionable terrain.
Nils Allegre, teammates with Sarrazin, did not hold back when addressing the safety concerns. “My opinion here is clear: they don’t know how to prepare a course,” he stated emphatically, criticizing the course preparation techniques. “It’s been 40 years since they started preparing courses, but they don’t know how to do anything other than create dangerous situations.” He added, “With just about the Olympics coming up next year, having this kind of course … they don’t deserve to have the Olympic Games here.”
Despite the day’s chilling incidents, Moeller reflected positively on his performance. “It feels really good,” he shared. “My skiing was obviously good. It felt like I had some mistakes, which I did, but they weren’t costly. I managed to ski well where I know I can and not do anything stupid.” His sentiment was echoed by Kriechmayr, who noted the increasing standard of competition but acknowledged the need for skiers to push limits to stay competitive.
Unfortunately, the course’s dangers were highlighted through the day as multiple athletes went down, dividing focus between the events' successes and the alarming injuries suffered by skiers around the world. Kriechmayr himself remarked, “It’s incredible what they are doing now,” emphasizing the relentless push for perfection seen among the younger competitors.
Following this tense race weekend, included were discussions about Olympic preparation and athlete safety going forward. With only 14 months to go before the Winter Games, the focus implicitly shifts on assuring athletes competing on such perilous slopes can adequately challenge themselves without undue risk to their health and safety.
Initial thrills of World Cup victories for newcomers like Moeller are balanced with sobering realities inherent within competitive skiing. Will the governing bodies responsible for slope preparation adapt and respond accordingly, ensuring the safety of their athletes as they head toward Olympic glory? The upcoming months will undoubtedly be pivotal as teams prepare and train under scrutiny, eagerly hoping for safer competitions during the high-stakes events to come.