Injured Svindal may be out months, not weeks

By Published On: November 29th, 2007Comments Off on Injured Svindal may be out months, not weeks

Defending World Cup overall champion and current tour leader Aksel Lund Svindal of Norway will be out of action for months, not weeks as reported following a training crash Tuesday, according to a Norwegian team official.
    Svindal underwent four hours of surgery to repair broken bones in his face and a deep laceration to his buttocks and groin, Norway's team doctor Ola Ronsen said. He is expected to remain hospitalized for at least another three to five days.

BEAVER CREEK, Colorado — Defending World Cup overall champion and current tour leader Aksel Lund Svindal of Norway could be out of action for months, not weeks as reported following a training crash Tuesday, according to a Norwegian team official.
    Svindal underwent four hours of surgery to repair broken bones in his face and a deep laceration to his buttocks and groin, Norway's team doctor Ola Ronsen said. He is expected to remain hospitalized for at least another three to five days.
    Svindal broke his nose and his cheek bones in three places as well as suffering a 15-centimeter (6-inch) cut to his rear and groin area when he crashed during downhill training Tuesday. He also chipped a front tooth.
    ''He's out for months, not weeks,'' Ronsen said. ''There are some obstacles in the way. The cut is deep and it is of concern that it could get infected or open up if he puts too much pressure on it.''
    The 24-year-old Norwegian will need at least three weeks without any physical training or exercise to allow the wound to heal, Ronsen said. Only then will doctors be able to assess when he might resume training.
    ''He's really beaten up but pretty positive,'' Norwegian head coach Marius Arnesen said.
    Svindal explained what happened to veteran Norwegian press veteran Trygve Sundboe. “He said that he took a too direct line prior to that jump," said Sundboe," and that he landed hard on his skis before losing his balance. He crashed into the nets and hurt his face when he hit a pole in the net. He also said that he was sort of pleased to have been the fastest at that point and that he hopes to recover soon." 

    The course seemed to catch a few skiers by surprise as scarce snow left a relatively thin course covering meaning the terrain was particularly bumpy and rolling without snow filling in the terrain.
    Svindal made an error and lost his balance on the lower section of the course, coming off the Golden Eagle jump and crashed above the Abyss compression. He landed on his back and neck with his skis in front of him, then slid over the sharp edges of his skis, which cut him as he careened into the safety netting head first.
    He was removed from the course on a sled before being transported to Vail Valley Medical Center.
    "It’s too bad, he is such a wonderfull character and we will miss him, said Benjamin Raich, Aksel’s toughest rival last winter. "I don’t want to think that my chances are now better. There are still many races left and many excellent skiers at the start. We don’t race against each other on the slope but against each other. I hope to see him soon on the slope again.”
 
    — With contributions from AP (Erica Bulman) and from Manuele Lang.

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