Italian Giant Slalom specialist Davide Simoncelli is resting in a Grenoble hospital after a bizarre training crash on the glacier at Les Deux Alpes on Sunday (June 24) left him with a perforated intestine and abdominal injuries.

Simoncelli, the second Italian team skier to sustain major injury this off season (after Dominick Paris) said he “slipped onto the inside,” while taking a training gate. “Usually the skis break the gate, but this time it was not so. I took a blow right into the abdominals.”

The 33 year old veteran said he thought the pain would pass quickly, but that he soon started to feel sick. A helicopter was available and he was transported to Grenoble where doctors spent three hours sewing his injuries.

“If all goes well I should go home next Monday and then start to think of recovery. ... We are still in a period of the season where you can recover from a mishap. ... and recover the lost time. I have done so many times in my life and will do so on this occasion too.”

Simoncelli finished the 2010 season ranked fourth in GS, though he was tenth last season. He owns two World Cup victories and has placed second five times. -HM

Gepa photo