Fears over racers safety - Ben Clatworthy, Racing and Sports Correspondent
Thursday November 5, 2009 - Email this article to a friend

Hosp damaged her knee badly and will miss the Olympics, the World Cup and the rest of her season.

Herbert Mandl, Head Coach of the Austrian women's ski team has spoken out about the safety of World Cup skiing following an accident badly damaged Hosp's knee during the Giant Slalom race in Soelden.

Out for the season

"We have to slow down the pace by the course setting, braking is very difficult on today's equipment," say Mandl.

Hosp tore ligaments in her knee whilst falling in the first run of the race and had to undergo surgery later that day. She has been ruled out of competition for the rest of the season.

"Soelden could have been set slower for sure. Maybe there will be some thinking after all the severe injuries," Hosp said.

She missed large parts of last season too after injuring her left knee whilst warming up for the Slalom race in Zagreb, Croatia, in January.

Nicole Hosp was the 2007 overall World Cup champion.

This year any male competitor over the age of 17 competing in FIS ski races has to have a ski with a minimum turn radius of 27 meters for Giant Slalom.

This has been increased from 23 meters as too many competitors were breaking legs whilst racing.

Fears over the safety of ski racing will never subside but slower set courses would help to reduce injury, however with competitors required to use 184 cm Giant Slalom skis tighter courses aren't always easy to set.

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