All the best Lup!!!

A few days ago I was watching the second DH training run in Bormio Italy on the internet.  The only not so pleasant thing watching a race online is that you do not see the racers come down, but you can only see there  time compared to the winners. 

Usually I don't watch much live timing, but this time I was interested because my close friend Louis-Pierre Helie was racing in Bormio and just a week before he had his best race ever in Val Gardena Italy. 

Louis-Pierre started with bib Nr. 56 at the world cup DH in Val Gardena Italy and had an outstanding run and finished 13th over all. That day he really stepped it up and had an amazing result along with the other Canadian Cowboys.  

Manny Osborne-Paradis finished 8th

Robbie Dixon finished 10th

Erik  Guay finished 12th

Louis-Pierre Helie  13th 

Benjamin Thomsen 16th

So now you know why I was interested in watching the Bormio DH.  I was hoping the guys would have another week like the past one. But it turned out to be different. 

I kept watching the life timing and it was finally Loui's turn to go. I kept my fingers crossed and I was hoping for a good result. 

Louis left the starting gate and shortly after, the race was interrupted.... It is really never a good sign when a race gets interrupted more then a few min. I did not know what was going on so I turned on the TV and there I could see the helicopter picking up Louis. I could hear the announcer saying that they would fly him to the hospital in Sondrio Italy. 

The diagnosis was a torn knee and a really bad concussion. Louis got noked out before a jump and flew through the air and landed hard. While still being unconscious, he slid down the icy track til he finally got to a stop. 

To start off, ski racing is a really dangerous and crazy sport and so much can happen in a quick second. But we all love to push the limit and at the same time try to keep everything under control but sometimes even we can not control the outcome. 

I spoke to Lup a few days ago and he is feeling okay. His head is a lot better and he was well up. He is flying back to Canada today and getting surgery on his knee soon. 

For whoever does not know this guy..... This is Louis-Pierre Helie.

Lup and my self on the podium. I hope we will be there together again soon.

I know how it feels being injured and trying to fight your way back. It is not an easy task but I know Lup and I know that he is strong and positive.

I wish you all the best Lup, keep your head up high even when it will get tough. You will be back in no time.  We are all behind you.

Talk to you soon.

Jeff