The Saslong has these ski careers on its conscience

The Saslong in Val Gardena is no exception. Camel Humpback or Ciaslat Meadow are not as steep as some key places in Kitzbühel or Wengen, but that doesn't mean they are any less dangerous. S+ has researched and found out which careers the Saslong ended or at least influenced in a significant way.

Jean Luc Cretier came to Val Gardena in 1998 as an Olympic champion. Shortly after his trip to South Tyrol, the Frenchman, who was on the World Cup podium twice in Val Gardena, ended his career. The reason: Shortly after takeoff, Cretier crashed and then fell into rocky terrain. There were no safety nets there because the FIS had classified the area as completely harmless. The then 32-year-old announced his retirement from skiing in December. Giorgio Piantanida almost lost his life on the Saslong in 1989. A heart rhythm massage saved him from death. © Sports Archive

Experienced eight years earlier, in 1989 Giorgio Piantanida his personal horror show in Val Gardena. The Italian fell face first after jumping over the camel hump and remained unconscious. The quick intervention of doctor Giovanni Costa, who performed a heart rhythm massage, saved his life. Piantanida also broke his right shoulder and three ribs. He was only able to leave the hospital after 30 days. The Lombard never competed in a ski World Cup race again. When Pietro Vitalini “disappeared” in the forest The year 1988 will never be forgotten Pietro Vitalini “disappeared” in the forest. After passing the final split, Vitalini fell and was apparently thrown into the trees. Nobody noticed until the training was over - and the Italian himself was lying in the forest and screaming for help. At some point a piste worker heard him, who eventually alerted the rescue team, who took Vitalini to the Brixen hospital. <a data-fancybox="gallery-test" class="spn-fancybox uk-inline first" href="https://s3-images.sportnews.bz/_images/scale/1400x800/img/2021/12/silvan-zurbriggen-riss-sich-2007-in-groeden-das-kreuzband-drei-jahre-spaeter-jubelte-er-ueber-den-abfahrtssieg-auf-der-saslong.jpg" data-caption="Silvan Zurbriggen riss sich 2007 in Gröden das Kreuzband. Drei Jahre später jubelte er über den Abfahrtssieg auf der Saslong. © apa/epa / ETTORE FERRARI" data-type="image"> <a data-fancybox="gallery-test" class="spn-fancybox uk-inline first" href="https://s3-images.sportnews.bz/_images/scale/1400x800/img/2021/12/dominik-paris-trug-mit-einem-muskelfaserriss-in-der-wade-eine-kleinere-blessur-nach-einem-groeden-sturz-davon-2013.jpg" data-caption="Dominik Paris trug mit einem Muskelfaserriss in der Wade eine kleinere Blessur nach einem Gröden-Sturz davon (2013)." data-type="image">

The Swiss Peter Mueller also made unpleasant acquaintances with the Saslong - more precisely with the camel humps. These have always been a thorn in Müller's side and in 1979 and 1980 he won the Val Gardena downhill despite avoiding the camel humps. After the passage was rebuilt a bit, going around it took too much time. From then on, Müller also had to jump over it. But in 1989 he landed too early and tore his cruciate ligament. He dared to restart his career, but was never as successful as before. By the way, the same applies to Much Mair , who tore his cruciate ligament during downhill training a few weeks earlier because he landed too early on the camel humps. “Cruciate ligament eater” camel hump Other prominent cruciate ligament victims are Saslong Stephan Eberharter (Fall at the exit from the Wall, 1993), Peter Rzehak (Camel Hump, 1993), Silvan Zurbriggen (2007) or Werner Perathoner . The local hero from Wolkenstein was even caught on the Saslong twice: in 1990 and 1998. The second cruciate ligament injury meant the end of his career. Although Perathoner fought for a comeback, he did not compete in any more races after the crash. Matthias Mayer In 2015, we also supported the camel humps and the entrance to the Ciaslat meadow. The Carinthian, who is currently one of the most successful downhill skiers in the World Cup circuit, suffered a severe vertebral fracture and had to end the season.

For by Marc Gisin A fall on the Saslong not only meant the end of the season, but also the end of his career. In 2015, the Swiss hit the slopes hard and was unconscious. Gisin suffered 16 (!) fractures to his rib cage, as well as damage to his hip and lungs. The following comeback attempts failed, so the Swiss finally put his career aside in 2020 and began studying.

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The Saslong has these ski careers on its conscience

Serious falls occur again and again in the Ski World Cup. Athletes in the downhill classics are particularly at risk. These races usually not only bring with them a lot of tradition, but also a fair amount of risk.

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