Zurbriggen Takes Nasty Fall During Downhill Training

BEAVER CREEK, Colo. — Switzerland’s Pirmin Zurbriggen had a nasty fall during downhill training today at the World Alpine Ski Championships. But he managed to ski off the mountain and was to be examined by team doctors.

Hugo Steinegger, spokesman for the Swiss team, said officials are “hopeful it is not serious. He appears to have a chest bruise and he had the wind knocked out of him. It was a really bad fall.”

Zurbriggen, sixth skier out of the gate in what was to be the third training run before Saturday’s downhill race, appeared to have been blown off balance by gusty winds while coming off a jump in the upper part of the course.

Zurbriggen, who had won both training runs Tuesday, did the splits when he landed, fell to the snow and bounced hard. He lay on the snow about two minutes, then stood up, trying to shake off effects of the crash.

After about five minutes, he skied slowly down the side of the course.