Matthias Lanzinger
I can’t believe it. Matthias Lanzinger or “Lanzi” as he is commonly know on the World Cup tour had to have his lower left leg amputated yesterday after crashing this weekend in Norway. It is so surreal to me to think that in this day and age it is even possible to lose a limb in a skiing accident. Especially when that accident takes place at a World Cup venue.
I can only wish Lanzi the best in his recovery and his life that is now changed forever.
This marks the third weekend of the season that has been marred by a horrific injury. Beaver Creek when Aksel Svindal, was hospitalized for over a week with a massive cut in his leg and facial injuries. Kitzbuhel where Scott Macartney crashed spectacularly off the final jump and sustained a frightening concussion. And now Lanzi whose promising ski racing career was snuffed out quicker than you could blink.
Athlete safety is surely going to be the hot topic in the FIS meetings this Spring and as well it should be. The issue that I struggle with is where do you draw the line between the sport being exciting to watch and it being completely safe for the athletes. In every course, there are dangerous sections that cause racers to breathe a sigh of relief once we are safely through them. Those sections are fun to watch and fun to ski, when you can ski them well. Those sections also produce the most injuries. The biggest problem is when jumps are not built correctly and include a lip on the takeoff, or a takeoff that is not well defined. Keep in mind that it is not uncommon to hit these jumps traveling in excess of 70 mph so any irregularity in the surface of the takeoff can be devastating!
The reality is that there are always going to be high speed crashes in downhill ski racing. The FIS and the race organizers need to accept the responsibility of providing the best safety netting, the most sensible course setting conditions and the best medical personnel on hand!
As for myself I ended up to in the nets twice last weekend but luckily came out with no major injuries. Only one Downhill race to go, at the world cup finals in Bormio, Italy, next week. Only the top 25 racers in the rankings are invited to finals and it is going to be exciting as everybody is racing to solidify their standings for the season. Didier Cuche only has a five points of breathing room on Bode for the DH title. After my performance last weekend third place is out of reach for me but I now have three guys breathing down my neck for the fourth place spot which I am still clinging to by five points.
The World Cup DH team has now dwindled to two members, Steven Nyman and I are hanging out in Innsbruck right now, getting a little rest before we go down to Italy to train before Bormio. We also lost one of our coaches, Rewk Patten, to a freeskiing injury so we are running a serious skeleton crew. Nonetheless we are going to try and finish strong!
See ya,
Marco
March 6th, 2008 at 9:46 am
Dear Marco,
it was unbelievable to hear about Lanzi and it isn’t easy at all to speak about it… like always you found the right words… we are all close to him, to his family, to his girlfriend…
I wish you all the best for the finals in Bormio. I promised you to come when we met in December, but I will be in hospital…
With my heart I will be there and support you
Take care, Lucia
March 6th, 2008 at 11:21 am
this what has happend to Lanzi it´s….i really don`t have the right word to say about that…i don´t know whose fault is that,but that doesn`t even matter now…world cup has lost a great skier!i honestly don´t know how many more accidents do need to happend so that something changes…i can not even imagine how do you all guys feel at the moment,but i wish all of you everything best, and seasons without injuries!!!tragedy!in croatia every media is writeing something about it, and i can honestly say that this tragedy caused more dust than when janica quit racing! i wish him everything best in the rest of his life and i hope he will recover quickly!!
March 6th, 2008 at 12:55 pm
marco, you still have both your legs. i’d say you did very good in norway. congratulations. i know you’d like some points too, but at least you have a chance at it next season. don’t be too bummed about the 3rd. best of luck in bormio. it’s just that canadians might get mad if you get 4th, they kinda have it trademarked this season ;P.
March 7th, 2008 at 11:29 am
Hey,..I think everybody is shocked by the “latest news” from world cup. well, there are always new and hard chellanges in life…
just hope he doesn’t lose his strengh!
marco…whish you a good time in Austria and all the best for the last races!
Watch out and stay healthy! All the best!
March 8th, 2008 at 11:32 am
SCREW safety! That is what separates the boys from the men. Lanzi proved this because he pushes that danger limit farther than most which makes him more of a man than most. With that aggressive attitude he will have NO problem overcoming this obstacle.
The topic at the FIS meeting should be how to toughen you babies up. Lines are only drawn in the dirt, you can always push it further.
So BUCKLE DOWN or go play in a padded room. Limits my ass.
WORD Broziff.
P.S. I agree “amle” marco better not be a canadian and get 4th.
March 9th, 2008 at 10:24 am
Safety first, Marco. Helmets and condoms. Kill it this week…
Reid
March 9th, 2008 at 4:19 pm
Reid, Im thirsty.
March 10th, 2008 at 2:33 am
Hey Marco! Very hard weekend in Norway! I’ll keep my fingers crossed for the race in bormio, good luck!
March 10th, 2008 at 4:14 pm
Good luck this week! You have had an awesome season, finish strong! If you need any pointers I just did the Town Downhill down Snow King, so I could probably help you out.
March 12th, 2008 at 10:53 pm
Fourth bro, nice. Now that the season is over, P wants to sniff your dirty downhill suit. Congrats!