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[madlifts]

I realize this is off topic. We're sharing the news of this tragic skiing accident to help with fundraising efforts on the skier's behalf.

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Eugene "E.J." Poplawski was seriously injured in March during the Super Finals of the 10th Annual Extreme Freeskiing Telemark Championships at Crested Butte, Colorado. One of just five competitors (out of a field of 53 adult men) to make the Super Finals, E.J. put together a superb run down CB's infamous "Body Bag" at the Staircase venue.

E.J. launched a mandatory 30 foot air at the bottom of the run. Though he landed cleanly on his edges, E.J. was betrayed by his equipment.

Video shot by Tough Guy Productions crewmember Brian Howard later revealed that one of Poplawski's skis broke in two on impact, right in line with the holes that had been drilled to T-nut his bindings to the skis (left). E.J. was able to make the hard right turn that followed on one ski, but when he tried to manuever through the aspen grove, the broken ski caused him to careen into one of the larger trees.

Ski patrollers evacuated Poplawski off the hill and medical personnel decided that he needed to be flown to Denver for treatment. Crested Butte is a long way from Denver, and by the time an aircraft could be made ready, and the flight completed, some six hours would reportedly pass before before E.J. would get to the hospital. Despite several attempts, surgeons were unable to reattach what was discovered to be a severed femoral artery. Tragically, the medical team was forced to amputate E.J.'s leg.

Anyone who wishes to contribute to the E.J. Poplawski Benefit Fund can read more about it and learn how to contribute here:

http://www.telemarkt...TeleNews71.html


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Thank you for your time. We're hoping to help a fellow skier.