Rykteflomen går på newschoolers om at tanner hall har brekt begge anklene i et forsøk på switch cork9 over chads gap(!!) sitat fra newschoolers: ...."We got there and saw a snowboarder bust huge and stylie with a 900 or something and blow up upon landing(hardpack).
5 minutes later I was standing next to one of my campers who happens to be an orthopedic surgeon when Tanner came railing in switch and busted an amazing corked 900(I think). Even though he hit it twice earlier and stuck one of them(I didn't see those jumps but that's what I heard), this time he was a little short on speed on take off and he came up about 4 feet short. It sounded like a car wreck and the impact was unreal. He rag dolled about 100 feet and when he came to a rest he started screaming like bloody murder that he had broken his ankles. His screams for help were downright chilling in their prolonged anguish and pain.
Dr. David and I skied over to him within 2 minutes and there were already about four others trying to help Tanner out. I mentioned to Tanner that Dave was a doctor and that he was in good hands. His shrieking did not abate for a while though and he was in massive pain. At that point I would have bet that he had a double compound fractures based on the horrific nature of the impact and his state of agony.
Alta patroller Dave Richards(grom) was next to us within a couple of minutes(he was there as a precaution I assume) and took over assessing Tanners mental state while Dr. Dave supervised the removal of Tanners boots. Someone had a first aid kit and Dr. Dave cut off Tanners socks. I was nervous to look as I'm sure we all were but there was no blood. Dr. Dave felt Tanners lower legs, feet, and ankles and spouted out a bunch of medical terminology that I had never heard before. But basically he figured that Tanners right heel and ankle were broken and the left ankle was possibly broken. Tanner then said that his right ankle felt especially fucked. Tears were shed by Tanner intermittently during the 30 minute ordeal before he was taken off the hill. I've never seen anyone so heartbroken and in such life sucking pain before.
Discussion turned to evac and Grom asked Dr. Dave if an immediate trip to the hospital via ambulance was neccessary or if he could go to the Alta clinic for X-rays. Tanner was like, 'fuck that ambulance shit I ain't payin for that if it's not necessary' and the Dr. said it would be o.k. to get the X-rays done at the clinic.
While they splinted his legs and loaded Tanner into a kitty I talked to Jon and he said that from above it looked like Tanner scrubbed speed on take-off due to the rotation he began before going airborne. It was also getting hotter and hotter and the inrun probably slowed a little in the time between jumps. Jon also said that he could barely sleep the night before wondering if the risk of this jump was worth it.
Later Dr. Dave went in to look at the X-rays and his original prognosis was just about spot on. Badly fractured right heel and ankle(at least from what I understood) and he said Tanner would need surgery immediately to prevent possible nerve damage. His left ankle was also broken but not as badly. I asked him how serious the injuries were and he said that the right ankle could potentially be very serious but if treated immediately things could be o.k. " Hørtes helt for jævlig ut ass......håper han blir bra igjen.
