Skiing can be exhilarating; it carries inherent risks that can lead to severe injuries or even fatalities. Per a 2020 report of the National Library of Medicine, an average of 3.49 injuries per 1000 athlete days occur in snow skiing. While accidents are few, they cannot be ignored, and the skiing community was again reminded of this fact. In a tragic accident, an American skier succumbed to his death at Aspen Highlands.

But what happened? At the Aspen Highlands on February 26, a ski crash in the Highland Bowl claimed the life of 76-year-old Clifford Hastings Johnson III from Houston, Texas. According to the Pitkin County Coroner’s Office, Johnson suffered a severe fall in the bowl at approximately 11:53 a.m.Even elite skiers like Mikaela Shiffrin and Lindsey Vonn have faced significant injuries.

Without any delay, Aspen Highlands Patrol swiftly called for emergency assistance after they saw the accident. In no time, CareFlight of the Rockies was dispatched to airlift injured Johnson to Aspen Valley Hospital’s Emergency Department via medevac helicopter. Though trauma specialists fought to save his life, the injuries proved fatal, and he succumbed at 1:37 p.m.

After the tragedy, the company decided to close Highland Bowl for the rest of the day. Later, Aspen said, “Hasty had a long history here in Aspen and will be remembered fondly. Our hearts go out to his family and friends at this difficult time.” Indeed, the Aspen skiing community loses an old skier who has been on the slopes he loved for a long time.

Such sudden accidents leave family and loved ones mounting, but no one can escape from the unfortunate. In fact, elite skiers also face serious injuries on snow, followed by surgeries or death.

The harsh reality of skiing injuries and deaths

In November 2024, two-time Olympic gold medalist Mikaela Shiffrin faced a severe crash. It is proof that even elite skiers don’t stay untouched from unfortunate incidents. Result? Shiffrin suffered a deep puncture injury and had to leave her dream of winning her 100th World Cup. The wound was so deep that she had to undergo surgery.

One can bear the pain of the injury, but missing major events of the sport is irreparable. But no one can do anything, right? As a result, she had to miss major events, including the women’s giant slalom at the World Alpine Skiing Championships. The injury didn’t stop her; she secured her 100th World Cup victory in February 2025. It’s just one example; there are many.

Another such example is Lindsey Vonn, who had to even retire from skiing ahead of the injury. Yes, you read it right. In November 2016, Lindsey Vonn suffered a severe fracture to the humerus bone in her right arm during a training session at Copper Mountain, Colorado. Later, in 2019, she announced her retirement. But she was determined enough to come back to the love of her life—skiing.

After a 5-year hiatus, in April 2024, she made her comeback as she underwent partial knee replacement surgery. While injuries leave hope for recovery, some accidents leave nothing behind. An unfortunate incident occurred in December 2024: Swiss Olympic snowboarder Sophie Hediger lost her life in an avalanche at Arosa Lenzerheide.

She was just 26 years old when we lost a talented skier to an avalanche. What happened? Hediger, along with her friends, went to the Arosa mountain resort (two hours from Zurich). And no one knows that it would be their last skiing on snow. The harsh experiences of skiing have been highlighted in these narratives.

In one place, the utmost beauty and excitement exist, and, on the other hand, the danger side also exists. But now is the time that safety measures need to be toughened to make sure that skiers face fewer injuries.