French Skier Nils Alphand Airlifted After Serious Crash in Crans Montana Downhill Training
French skier Nils Alphand was airlifted to a hospital after a severe fall during Friday’s second training session for the World Cup downhill race in Crans Montana, Switzerland, as witnessed by an AFP photographer.
Starting with bib number 25, Alphand crashed approximately 50 seconds into his run. Medics attended to him on the side of the slope and reportedly placed a neck brace on him.
The French Ski Federation has not yet released any updates on the condition of the 28-year-old skier, as the French team has been depleted by injuries since the head injury suffered by its leader, Cyprien Sarrazin, in late December. Blaise Giezendanner (right knee) and Alexis Pinturault (right tibia and knee) also ended their seasons early in January.
Alphand, the son of three-time downhill World Cup champion Luc Alphand, had been the top-ranked Frenchman in the first training session on Thursday in Crans Montana, finishing with the 17th fastest time ahead of Saturday’s downhill race. A super-G race is also scheduled for Sunday on the Valais slope.
A junior world champion in super-G in 2017, Alphand recently competed in his first world championships in Saalbach, Austria, where he retired from the super-G, finished 24th in the downhill, and placed 14th in the team event.
Concern and Support for Alphand
The skiing community has expressed concern and support for Alphand following his crash.
"We are all thinking of Nils and hoping for the best," said French Ski Federation President Michel Vion. "He is a talented young skier with a bright future, and we wish him a speedy recovery."
Fellow skier Adrien Théaux added: "It was a terrible fall, and we were all shocked to see it. Nils is a tough guy, and I know he will come back from this stronger than ever."
Impact on French Team
Alphand’s injury is another blow to the French team, which has been struggling with injuries throughout the season. Sarrazin’s head injury has sidelined him indefinitely, while Giezendanner and Pinturault are expected to miss the remainder of the campaign.
"It’s been a difficult season for us," said Vion. "We have lost some of our top skiers to injury, and it’s been tough to compete. But we are a resilient team, and we will continue to fight."
Swiss Downhill Event Continues
Despite Alphand’s accident, the Swiss downhill event will continue as scheduled. The races are set to take place on Saturday and Sunday, and a large crowd is expected to witness the action.
The downhill race on Saturday is scheduled to begin at 11:30 AM local time, while the super-G race on Sunday will start at 10:00 AM.
