BEAVER CREEK VILLAGE, Colo. – Canadian skier Broderick Thompson is in the hospital with head injuries after falling Wednesday while training ahead of this weekend’s World Cup races in Beaver Creek, Colo.
According to a statement from Alpine Canada, Thompson was flown to Denver Health Center where he is in stable condition.
According to Alpine Canada, the 29-year-old from Whistler, B.C., is alert and showing steady progress. Canadian national ski team runner Britt Richardson says she has spoken to Thompson since the injury and is glad to know he is on the mend.
“Obviously we’re all really sad that he got injured there, but I’ve heard that he’s stable and doing better and that he’s improved over the last few days,” said Richardson, who was in this weekend Mont skis in the Giant Slalom World Cup – Tremblant, Que.
“We hope this trend continues and yes, we are just sending him positivity and love.”
Thompson has been a member of the Canadian ski team since 2015. He competed in both the 2018 Olympics in Pyeongchang, Korea, and the 2022 Games in Beijing.
In 2021, he placed third in the Beaver Creek Super-G, his only podium finish on the World Cup tour.
He is the younger brother of Olympic ski cross champion Marielle Thompson.
Canadian Sarah Bennett, who is also racing in Mont-Tremblant this weekend, said it was hard to see a fellow skier get injured, especially if the head was affected.
“The speed guys are just so tough and there’s so much going on that we can barely watch,” Bennett said. “Especially for their parents, I feel like they need to hear news like this.
“Knowing that he is in recovery and doing much better is really good to hear.”
Friday’s downhill race in Beaver Creek was canceled due to heavy snow.
It was the third weather-related postponement of a speed race this season after two descents in the Zermatt area of Switzerland on November 11 and 12 could not take place due to strong winds.
The Beaver Creek crew is working to prepare the Birds of Prey course for another downhill race on Saturday, weather permitting. There is also a Super G event planned for Sunday.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 1, 2023.
With files from The Associated Press.
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