Crash orgy in Kitz

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Alexis Pinturault crashed and was transported away by helicopter.(Bild: AFP)

"We have to do something!" ORF co-commentator Hans Knauß was almost bursting at the seams. Alexis Pinturault had crashed in the Super-G in Kitzbühel (by no means the only skier to do so). And once again triggered a safety debate in skiing.

For Knauß, the matter was clear: "We've long since moved on. We simply can't have as many crashes and injuries as in the recent past." Skiing emperor Franz Klammer was also asked during the ORF broadcast whether skiing had a problem. "It's at the limit," replied the four-time Hahnenkamm winner: "The snow is very aggressive, the skis are very aggressive. You should pull the ripcord when it comes to injuries."

(Bild: ORF Screenshot)

Alexis Pinturault had involuntarily fueled the debate. He had already fallen as the third skier in the super-G on the Seidlalm. The Frenchman got stuck after spinning out in the left-hand bend and crashed into the safety fence. He was able to get up himself and release his skis from the bindings. However, he then sat down. Initially, a knee injury was suspected. Pinturault was treated and transported away by helicopter.

(Bild: AFP)

But then there was hope. The French federation announced that a serious injury might not have occurred. The discussion about safety in the alpine circus will not.

Strieidinger uninjured
Almost piquant: no sooner had the course been restored after the Pinturault crash and the race resumed than the next skier, Otmar Striedinger, crashed. It looked wild, but thankfully it wasn't. A careless mistake. Strieidinger remained uninjured.

Otmar Striedinger in the finish area - uninjured(Bild: AFP)

Next Frenchman crashes
And the crash madness continues: just three riders after Striedinger, the next crash, and again the same wave, shortly after the first split time. Frenchman Florian Loriot flew over at the front and even fell a little on his face. The binding came undone immediately, Loriot came to rest in the safety net and was immediately attended to by the support staff. And - just like his team-mate Pinturault - transported away by helicopter.