Family members of a teenage freeskier were yesterday
anxiously waiting for updates after the 19-year-old had a
serious crash at the Winter X Games in Aspen.
Rose Battersby, from Taupo, was injured during a warm-up
session before the women's Jeep Ski Slopestyle final
yesterday morning (NZT).
A family member told the Herald they hadn't heard anything
since she was taken to hospital and were waiting for news.
Footage broadcast on ESPN showed Battersby sliding on her
back down a slope, her skis tumbling beside her, before
crashing through a fence and stopping.
Alex Kerr, of Snow Sports NZ, said Battersby was assessed at
Aspen Valley Medical and was said to be in a stable condition
with a lumbar spine fracture and able to move and "feel all
extremities". She was also able to speak to rescuers. A
second skier called Battersby was also involved in a crash
but they are unrelated.
"Rose is being transferred to Denver for further assessment
and treatment," Ms Kerr said, adding that specialists would
determine the best course of treatment.
On her website, Battersby said she was chasing her dream of
becoming No 1 in the world for free skiing.
She finished ninth in the women's Slopestyle competition last
year, the same one she was injured in yesterday.
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