SKI CROSS. GRINDELWALD, SUI (MAR 10, 2012) - The Canadian Ski Cross athlete Nik Zoricic crashed heavily during the Ski Cross event in Grindelwald on March 10th, 2012 and died as a result of the injuries he suffered.

The FIS Ski Cross World Cup in Grindelwald on March 10th, 2012 was overshadowed by the fatal accident. The Canadian athlete Nick Zoricic fell heavily just before the finish in the round of eight, crashing directly into the safety netting and thereafter laying motionless. Medical care was administered immediately by team doctors, with expert care by the Swiss emergency response team Air Glacier following within minutes.

Canada's Nick Zoricic presents his start number during a ceremony before a FIS skicross world cup event in Grindelwald March 9, 2012. Zoricic died on March 10 after crashing in a World Cup ski cross race in the Swiss resort of Grindelwald, Alpine Canada said in a statement. Picture taken March 9, 2012. REUTERS/Ernst Kehrli

Despite the best efforts of all involved and the reanimation of Zoricic in hospital, he died at 12:35 as a result of severe neurotrauma.

In a statement from Alpine Canada, ACA President Max Gartner said this:

“Ski cross national team member Nik Zoricic passed away this morning after he was involved in a crash at a ski cross World Cup race in Grindelwald, Switzerland. Our thoughts are first and foremost with Nik’s parents and his family.

“Nik was a very talented young ski racer and a great athlete who was much loved by his teammates and fellow competitors. He will be greatly missed by all of us and the ski community as a whole.”

Flowers and a portrait are seen on the site where Canada's Nick Zoricic was deadly injured, in Grindelwald, March 11, 2012. Zoricic died on Saturday after crashing in a World Cup ski cross race in the Swiss resort of Grindelwald, Alpine Canada said in a statement. REUTERS/Ernst Kehrli

Zoricic, 29 years old, began his ski career as an Alpine athlete and switched later to Ski Cross. He achieved two podium places in his Ski Cross career (2010/11 and 2011/12) and was sixth in the overall standings in 2011.

After the tragic accident the organisers decided to cancel the entire event in Grindelwald, including the remainder of Saturday's race and the World Cup Final on March 11th.

Competitors and staff members pay tribute to late Canada's Nick Zoricic, on the spot where Zoricic was deadly injured, in Grindelwald, March 11, 2012. Zoricic died on Saturday after crashing in a World Cup ski cross race in the Swiss resort of Grindelwald, Alpine Canada said in a statement. REUTERS/Ernst Kehrli

The Organising Committee, FIS, and Swiss-Ski express their deepest condolences to the family and friends of Nik Zoricic and the Canadian Ski Team.

FISfreestyle.com
Saturday 10 March 2012