Following the 16-year-old Japanese snowboarder who suffered a horrific crash in the finals of the men’s halfpipe competition several Aerial skiers have suffered spine-tingling head first crashes.
During the winter Olympics which are taking place in Pyeongchang, South Korea several female finalists crash-landed after taking off from dizzying heights.
Aerial skiiers, Alexandra Orlova competing for Russia, Xu Mengtao for China and Alla Tsuper of Belarus all landed head first during the final stage of the competition which was held at the Phoenix Snow Park, it is believed that none of the women were seriously injured.
The form of freestyle skiing, which was debuted at the 1988 Calgary games, combines speed, showmanship and the ability to perform aerial manoeuvres while skiing.
However it doesn’t come without risk as a staggering 49 per cent of Aerial Skiers in Sochi reported injuries, as well as 34 percent of snowboard cross athletes, and 37 percent of slope-style snowboarders, Yahoo! Sports reported.
The sport was first recognised by the International Ski Federation (FIS) in 1979 however they brought in regulations in a bid to curb some of the more dangerous elements and the first FIS World Cup series was held the following year.
Russian athlete Alexandra Orlova crashed during the women’s freestyle aerial final at Phoenix Snow Park at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang in South Korea
Laura Peel, of Australia, jumps gracefully in to the air as she flips mid-way during the women’s freestyle aerial final at Phoenix Snow Park
Russian athlete Liubov Nikitina leaps during the women’s freestyle aerial final which saw her finish 7th in the finals table
Russian athlete Kristina Spiridonova crashed and suffered a nasty landing in the snow during the women’s freestyle aerial final
Xu Mengtao, of China, crashed head first during the women’s freestyle aerial final yet still managed to finish ninth in the rankings
The chaos continued at the games where the women competed in the form of freestyle skiing, which was debuted at the 1988 Calgary games, combines speed, showmanship and the ability to perform aerial manoeuvres while skiing
Ouch! Alla Tsuper competing for Belarus ended her Winter games experience with a nose dive however she still finished fourth
Prior to aerial skiing Alexandra Orlova who was involved in gymnastics and began freestyle skiing at age 14 and her ambition was to win a medal at this years games
Mengtao Xu of China fell during the Women’s Freestyle Skiing Aerials final at the Bokwang Phoenix Park landing on her hand and arms following the spine-tingling descent
The sport doesn’t come without risk as a staggering 49 per cent of Aerial Skiers in Sochi reported injuries, as well as 34 percent of snowboard cross athletes, and 37 percent of slope-style snowboarders, Yahoo! Sports reported
The sport was first recognised by the International Ski Federation (FIS) in 1979 however they brought in regulations in a bid to curb some of the more dangerous elements