Norwegian skier Marte Monsen suffered a high-speed crash during the women's downhill at the Alpine Ski World Cup in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, leading to the event's cancellation. Her helmet flew off as she tumbled into safety nets, leaving her face battered. Fellow competitors Lindsey Vonn and Nina Ortlieb also crashed amid difficult conditions.
The Alpine Ski World Cup women's downhill race in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, turned chaotic on January 30, 2026, when multiple crashes prompted organizers to cancel the event. Norwegian skier Marte Monsen, 26, experienced a terrifying fall at high speed. Her helmet dislodged as she crashed into the safety nets, resulting in visible injuries around her nose, mouth, and right eye. Medics attended to her immediately, and she was transported off the slope on a sled stretcher before being taken to a hospital for further evaluation.
Monsen, a promising talent who finished fifth in the giant slalom at the 2018 World Junior Alpine Skiing Championships and debuted in the World Cup that year, has an older brother, Marcus, who is also a professional skier. The incident was one of several mishaps. Austrian Nina Ortlieb sustained a black eye but reported getting away lightly. American Lindsey Vonn, 41, a three-time Olympic medallist and anticipated star at the upcoming Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics starting next week, lost control after a jump and ended up in the nets. She walked down the mountain gingerly, showing pain in her knee, and proceeded directly to the medical tent.
Vonn's crash was the third among the first six racers, raising concerns about her Olympic participation. Fresh snow and tricky light conditions contributed to the dangers. Organizers halted the race after a forerunner assessed the course, prioritizing safety amid the hazardous setup.