Mountain biking is experiencing a global boom. Ski resorts everywhere are opening up lift-served bike parks for the summer season, ebikes are making it easier than ever to get out on the trails, and the technology and gear is getting better and better every year. This is true across the world (it might even be more true in Europe than it is in the U.S.). With the growing popularity, though, it’s important to remember just how dangerous of a sport it really is.
High speeds and very solid obstacles (rocks, the ground) mean crashes can be devastating, leading to broken bones or much worse. This crash, which occurred at Bikepark Schladming in Austria (Planai Schladming ski resort), is a great example of how things can go wrong.
Yannick, the rider, explained that he was simply unlucky, jumping directly into a huge bump that was around 17cm (~16 inches). It was simply too big of an impact for him to hold on. As for injuries, Yannick apparently wound up breaking 2 vertebrae in his neck. He says it’s nothing too serious and that he’ll be back on the bike in basically no time. However the bike is done for.
This video should serve as a reminder to the dangers of mountain biking. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t mountain bike, it just means you should always wear the necessary safety equipment. Helmets are an absolute necessity, and other protection like knee pads, elbow pads, back braces, and chest protectors could literally save your life.
