PhotoBlog - freestyle-skiing

Jan

2012

2:15pm, EST

Skiers hit the halfpipe despite Burke's injury

Lynn Debruin / AP

Members of the French National team practice for the Winter X Games as a shadow is cast into the 22-foot superpipe at Park City Mountain Resort in Park City, Utah, Jan 12, 2012. Though they just arrived at this Utah mountain town, they know this is the pipe where Canadian freestyle skier Sarah Burke, in critical condition at a nearby hospital, was injured just days ago.

Doug Pensinger / Getty Images file

Sarah Burke of Whistler, Canada poses with her gold medal after winning the Women's Skiing Superpipe at Winter X Games 13 on Buttermilk Mountain on January 23, 2009 in Aspen, Colorado.

By Rich Shulman

Update:

Jan. 19: Canadian skier Sarah Burke dies of injuries

While I understand that new Olympic sports like freestyle skiing and snowboarding in halfpipes are extremely popular with younger sports fans, it concerns me that a second young star has been grievously injured in a fall.

Like the death of a luger at the Vancouver Olympics in 2010, I suspect it will take a death in this sport before ski authorities like the FIS address the safety of these sports.

AP reports:

PARK CITY, Utah - The afternoon sun has cast a giant shadow across one wall of the imposing 22-foot superpipe at Park City Mountain Resort.

On the other, members of the French national team are illuminated as they catch big air, twisting and spinning as they prepare for another run at the Winter X Games later this month.

Though they just arrived at this Utah mountain town, they know this is the pipe where Canadian freestyle skier Sarah Burke, in critical condition at a nearby hospital, was injured just days ago. And it is the same pipe where champion snowboarder Kevin Pearce suffered a traumatic brain injury two years ago.

Mark J. Terrill / AP file

In this Feb. 5, 2011, photo, Sarah Burke, of Canada, competes in the women's halfpipe finals at the freestyle skiing world championships in Park City, Utah. Burke took fourth in the event. Burke was in critical condition Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2012, a day after she was airlifted from the mountains of Utah to a Salt Lake City hospital with injuries after a training accident in the superpipe.

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Jul

2011

12:55pm, EDT

Gutsy Olympic skier, Jaret 'Speedy' Peterson dead at 29

By Rich Shulman

I can never forget the bold attempt Speedy made to land his signature jump, The Hurricane, to win the gold medal in the 2006 Olympics in Turin. He landed off balance, and finished seventh.

He came back to win a silver medal in Vancouver in 2010, but he was not able to overcome his personal demons and committed suicide yesterday.

Natalie Morales remembers Jaret "Speedy" Peterson and Today video at the bottom of this post.

Matt Stroup's tribute to Peterson.

Jim Hollander / EPA

Jeret Peterson of the USA lifts off from the 'kicker' in his first of two jumps to win the silver medal in the mens' Aerials freestyle skiing during the 2010 Winter Olympics in Cypress Mountain, north of Vancouver, Canada. Olympic freestyle skiing silver medallist Jeret 'Speedy' Peterson has committed suicide, police said on 26 July 2011. Peterson, 29, shot himself on 25 July 2011, three days after being arrested on suspicion of speeding and drunk driving. He was released on bail.

Martin Bureau / AFP - Getty Images

USA's silver medalist Jeret Peterson competes in the men's Freestyle Skiing aerials final at Cypress Mountain, north of Vancouver on February 25, 2010 during the Vancouver Winter Olympics.

Streeter Lecka / Getty Images file

Jeret Peterson of the United States celebrates winning the silver medal during the freestyle skiing men's aerials final on day 14 of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics at Cypress Mountain Resort on February 25, 2010 in Vancouver, Canada.

Mark Blinch / Reuters

Jeret Peterson of the U.S. celebrates after landing his second jump in the men's aerials freestyle skiing final on Cypress Mountain at the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics, February 25, 2010.

American skier Jeret "Speedy" Peterson, who won a silver medal in the freestyle division at the Vancouver Olympics but suffered from alcohol abuse and depression, took his own life on Monday. TODAY's Natalie Morales reports.