OT- X Games snowmobiler dies

Submitted by ATLalumni on

Not sure how many watched the XGames, but i'm sure there are avid snowmobilers on this site, and we all know the dangers.  Caleb Moore, 25, died today from injuries suffered during his trick attempt at the Games.  Didn't look that bad if you watched, especially after he got up and walked off on his own.  Had some bleeding around his heart, but it was brain damage that apparently became fatal.  Sad day.

P.S. his younger brother was also in the XGames and seperated his pelvis.  Scary.

triangle_M

January 31st, 2013 at 5:19 PM ^

My older brother was an avid snowmobiler until one of his buddies took their own head off going too fast and hitting a barbed wire fence or a steel cable or something.  I don't remember the details it was 30 years ago.  They are a lot of fun, but I would never get on one after that.  Its just a fact that these machines while not inherently dangerous by themselves, can be turned into death machines just like cars or motorcycles with hubris or carelessness or in many cases, a momentary lapse of awareness.  

Danwillhor

January 31st, 2013 at 7:07 PM ^

Terrible story. Nobody take this wrong but that is the inherent risk in these "X" sports. Flipping a 400+ lb machine in the air at extreme speed has a high value of danger, expert or not. As with football and all sports, they know what is at stake. That said, noobody feels like it will be them and it doesn't make the death any less terrible. All of my friends and I had snowmobiles and 4 wheelers but we never did more than small jumps (like 3 foot high ramps) and sled surfing. The sled surfing (done with an actual sled or upside down car hood) was not very smart despite the rush and fun. I wiped out into a fence once and was lucky is was a tall and slack wire fence to basically cushion the impact or it could have been bad. Kid had skills but it's what you risk and sadly he was mortally injured. I wonder if his brother will continue in the sport? If the parents, I'd try my best to get him to give it up. The sponsorship deals and such aren't worth the worst case scenario in such a high risk sport.