Lodwick Crashes in France, Returns to Park City for Further Evaluation and Rehab

FasterSkier · January 10, 2014

Todd Lodwick 2014 Olympic Team Trials for Nordic Combined at Utah Olympic Park, Park City Cross Country Photo: Sarah Brunson/U.S. Ski Team — Todd Lodwick winning the 2014 Olympic Team Trials for Nordic Combined at Utah Olympic Park last month in Park City, Utah. In winning the trials, he became the first U.S. Nordic Combined skier to prequalify for the Sochi Olympics. (Photo: Sarah Brunson/U.S. Ski Team)

During the provisional jump at the World Cup in Chaux Neuve, France, Todd Lodwick crashed and injured his shoulder on Friday. Lodwick, who recently qualified for his sixth Olympic Winter Games next month in Sochi, Russia, is currently headed back to Park City, Utah, where he will get further evaluation and begin rehab on his shoulder with the goal of being ready to compete next month.

According to Dave Jarrett, the U.S. Nordic Combined head coach, the weather conditions were not at play, saying “it was not windy, not snowy, pretty mild, just tame conditions.”

“Basically, he got a little crooked and went over, not over the handlebars, but kind of over the side and landed on the back of his shoulder,” Jarrett explained on the phone.

Lodwick tumbled and crashed on the outrun, which was extremely hard-packed due to overnight rain, but was immediately treated by both a doctor and physical therapist, who according to Jarrett, went with Lodwick to the hospital where he received further evaluation and an X-ray.

Jarrett said that he and the other coaches have been reviewing the video footage to try to figure out just what happened, but at this point they have not come up with any conclusions.

“It is one of those things that happens in jumping, it doesn’t happen that often, it is an extreme sport, but it is relatively safe,” he said.

However, when you are going 90-plus kilometers per hour down a jump the slightest error can result in a large mistake.

“It happens in training, it happens in comps and unfortunately, it happened today on that jump,” Jarrett said.

According to Jarrett, Lodwick remains optimistic and wants to be in top form next month. “He told me that he is going to do everything in his power to make that happen,” Jarrett said.

Lodwick will leave early tomorrow morning to fly back to Park City, Utah, to begin his rehab and continue preparing for Sochi.