Exploring the Practical and Thrilling Side of Olympic Ski Airlifts
MILAN — The Olympic events often captivate viewers, but some moments, particularly those involving skier injuries, generate a mix of fascination and dread. When a competitor sustains an injury on the slopes, emergency medical procedures are promptly initiated, frequently involving helicopter evacuations for rapid transport to hospitals.
Such a distressing scenario unfolded recently when U.S. downhill racer Lindsey Vonn suffered a broken left leg in a significant crash during the Olympic events. This incident followed another troubling week in which Vonn had incurred a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) during a competition in Crans-Montana, Switzerland.
The evacuation process, known as long-lining, involves securing the injured skier in a specialized basket suspended from a helicopter. A medical attendant is harnessed alongside the patient, creating a surreal scene as they are lifted over the Dolomites, often at heights exceeding a hundred feet.
From the bleachers, observers see an alarming sight of an elite athlete suspended mid-air, leading some to comment on the intense nature of such rescues. “I’d rather just be shoved down the mountain,” one onlooker remarked.
For experienced ski racers, however, these incidents are part of the sport’s risks. “I think the adrenaline takes over a little bit,” remarked Norwegian skier Kajsa Vickhoff Lie. “You just have to take it easy. You have to trust everyone around you because they know best.”
Interestingly, the experience for the injured skier while being airlifted can be more disorienting than frightening. “You’re looking up,” Lie explained. “The only thing you see is the chopper.”
In some cases, athletes might already be given medications that lessen their awareness of the situation. U.S. skier Jackie Miles had a poignant recollection of her own crash in 2018, which ended her Olympic aspirations. “The biggest memory I have is being long-lined to the hospital and just seeing my Olympic dreams kind of go away,” she shared.
Questions arise as to why officials do not transport injured athletes using sleds, like ski patrols at resorts. The swift arrival to medical care via helicopter is often prioritized, especially in high-stakes environments like the Olympics, where televised events adhere to strict schedules. “For me, it was get me out of here because my teammates are waiting at the start to go,” said Olympic skiing legend Picabo Street, who underscored the importance of efficiency in emergencies.
Street also expressed confidence in the medical team handling such situations, stating, “You’re in the hands of some of the most able-bodied human beings on the planet.” She described her own helicopter ride as “a fun ride,” despite the dire circumstances.
Three-time Olympian Steve Nyman highlighted his experience of being airlifted after a crash, noting, “I was looking around when I was up there, like, ‘Wow, this is pretty nice. The German Alps.’”
However, not all experiences are as peaceful. Former Olympian Stacey Cook recounted her challenging helicopter ride, recalling, “It was snowing, really bad weather. I remember the wind from the propeller. It was like shooting ice pellets at my face.”
Communication can pose challenges as well. Norway’s Lie described a past incident where language barriers complicated the emergency response for her broken leg in Italy. “They didn’t know English, and for me that was catastrophic,” she said, emphasizing the importance of clear communication in injury management.
Overall, while the process of evacuating injured athletes is vital and efficient, it requires a level of trust from skiers who work in a high-risk sport. As Lie succinctly put it, “You can’t have fear in this job.”
