Top skier hurt in training

Press, 20 September 1985, Page 1

Top skier hurt in training

By

TIM DUNBAR

New Zealand’s top skiracer, Marcus Hubrich, of Wellington, will be off the slopes for some weeks at least after dislocating a hip in a fall at Mount Hutt yesterday. Hubrich, aged 22, was airlifted from the ski-field by helicopter to Ashburton Hospital after the accident. He was reported to be in a comfortable condition last evening, lying in traction after surgery to put back the hip. The New Zealand ski team has been in a downhill training camp at Mount Hutt since Sunday and Hubrich fell while going over a jump. The bindings of both his skis broke. The national team coach, Mr Hansueli Rhyner, attributed the fall to a lapse of concentration. Mr Rhyner, a Swiss, said that Hubrich was “in a good mood and not feeling much pain” last evening.

He said Hubrich had been in a lot of pain on the mountain. “Dislocating a hip is one of the most painful injuries you can get.” The New Zealand A team is due to go to Europe in November for the northern winter but it is unlikely that Hubrich will be able to go. “Nobody knows when Marcus will be ski-ing again,” said Mr Rhyner. “It is very, very difficult to say, but it will be a few weeks awav.” An Australian skier, injured after striking his head in a fall at Mount Hutt on Wednesday, remained last evening seriously ill in the intensive-care unit of Christchurch Hospital, said hospital staff. The skier, Mr Terry Fordham, aged in his late 20s, of Sydney, was believed to have suffered a cerebral haemorrhage after he struck his head. He continued ski-ing but later collapsed.