Interesting discussion on the Tony Kornheiser show about how dangerous X game events are....

[Captain Hilts]

A major competitor is still hospitalized from a December injury. Shawn White had a serious injury in last week's XGames, etc.

I agree. I don't think doing summersalts on skis or a board is a good idea.

[ProfessorGAC]

1. Wouldn't Get Me To Try It

It looks inherently dangerous. Way too dangerous for me, and i've jumped out of a plane!
GAC

[Captain Hilts]

2. I wonder what the injury rate is for beginners, or folks trying to do what these

folks do.

And, yeah, I live in the military community where folks do dangerous things, but you're taught/instructed in stages that do everything to mitigate the dangers as best they can.

They had a clip of someone hitting their jaw on the edge of the half pipe. The helmet pops off, etc. NOT pretty.

[ProfessorGAC]

3. I've Always Wondered. . .

. . .how one knows they're good at something like that. Do they try it, and if they don't get killed, they're good at it? That first time has GOT to be hairy.
GAC

[TZ]

7. People die skiing too.

Guess we should ban that too. I know lots of people who have seriously hurt themselves skiing but still love it.

[ProfessorGAC]

12. What The Heck Are You Talking About?

Nobody said anything about banning anything, other than you. In fact, the two of us were mostly kidding around.

Sheesh, take a pill.
GAC

[Upton]

4. X game sports shouldn't even be part of the Olympics..

they were originally inserted in there primarily to fatten America's medal count...

[Captain Hilts]

5. I agree. That's exactly right. Ugh! nt

[cali]

10. they absolutely deserve to be in the Olympics

[TZ]

6. Umm ski jumping

And luge and skeleton and even skating isn't dangerous? People die in those sports too. No alpine sport is particularly safe. When was the last time a x game athelete died? I seem to recall something happening in other sports. Nothing is particularly safe. I really don't think the xgames is any more dangerous than other sports. Why don't we ban gymnastics and all figure skating with lifts and tosses as well..:eyes:

[Captain Hilts]

8. No, but the training for ski jumping, etc. is incremental. How do you do summersalts

the first time?

[JonLP24]

9. What makes you think that someone trys

a 540 on a snow board or skateboard first time on one? Those who do, do train in increments for one because you got to learn how to keep control of the board.

[erpowers]

11. Barrel of Foam

As far as I know most of the x games athletes train with barrels of foam. They actually do not just go to a halfpipe and try a jump that they imagined. They first come up with an idea and then go to a training area that has a barrel/container of foam, like the thing at Chuck E. Cheese's that has the colored balls, and practice the jumps in that area. I assume that once they feel comfortable with the jump and their ability to do the jump they try it in competition. If they are not able to do they jump I guess they just drop the jump.