Ski Alpin: DSV draws consequences from death of junior skier Burkhart

The German Ski Association (DSV) has drawn a first conclusion from the tragic death of Max Burkhart:”In the future, we will no longer release young people for downhill skiing who have not submitted to the DSV’s training concept,”said Wolfgang Maier, Alpine Director of the ARD on Saturday.

The 17-year-old Burkhart had an accident last Tuesday at a North America Cup race on the World Cup circuit in Lake Louise, Canada, and died a day later from his abdominal injuries. The safety precautions had met the “highest standard” that exists in ski racing, said Maier.

Burkhart did not belong to any DSV squad. He started in Lake Louise as a member of the US Ski Federation’s West Coast team. He joined this team after moving to the Sugar Bowl Academy in California in August, a kind of ski high school. For the races in Lake Louise the DSV had only registered him formally.