Simon d'Artois, halfpipe skier airlifted to hospital after falling hard on his head and shoulder

(File photo) A skier takes a practice run prior to qualifications for the FIS Freestyle Ski Halfpipe World Cup at the Sprint U.S. Grand Prix at Park City Mountain on January 31, 2013 in Park City, Utah.
Photographer: Doug Pensinger
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Posted: 02/02/2013

By: Lynn Debruin, Associated Press

PARK CITY, Utah (AP) -- Canadian halfpipe skier Simon d'Artois was been airlifted to a hospital after falling hard on his head and shoulder.

U.S. Grand Prix spokeswoman Krista Parry says d'Artois was awake and alert Saturday.

D'Artois fell near the end of the 22-foot superpipe and slid to the bottom. He was wearing a neck brace as he was taken off the hill on a medical sled. He flashed a "rock on" sign with his right hand.

Five of the 12 men in the finals fell Saturday. France's Benoit Valentin appeared to injure his left knee.

The halfpipe is the same event where Canadian freestyle pioneer Sarah Burke crashed last year while training and died a week later from the injuries.

The dangers of winter action sports came into focus again this week when freestyle snowmobile rider Caleb Moore died after a crash at the Winter X Games.