Nik Zoricic a 29-year-old Canadian skier has died of head injuries after crashing into safety netting at a World Cup skicross event in Switzerland Saturday.
He was treated on the course before being airlifted to hospital where he was pronounced dead at 12:35 p.m. Swiss time.
The International Ski Federation said “severe neurotrauma” was a result of the crash led to the skier’s death.
Zoricic, just turned 29 last month, he was one of three skiers taking part in the World Cup event in Switzerland.
Zoricic raced on the World Cup circuit for more than three years and was competing in his 36th event Saturday.
He placed eighth in the 2011 World Championships held at Deer Valley, Utah.
Organizers said on the race website that Saturday’s World Cup event has been cancelled.
Max Gartner, president of Alpine Canada, expressed condolences to Zoricic’s parents and family.
“Nik was a very talented young ski racer and a great athlete who was much loved by his teammates and fellow competitors,” Gartner said in a statement. “He will be greatly missed by all of us and the ski community as a whole.”
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