After A Death, Changes For The X-Games?

In this photo taken Jan. 25, 2012 and released by ESPN Images, snomobiler Caleb Moore smiles while attending a news conference at the Winter X Games in Aspen, Colo. (Eric Lars Bakke/ESPN Images)

Following the death of snowmobiler Caleb Moore, ESPN has announced it will cancel a freestyle snowmobile demonstration that was to be held during the European leg of the X Games in Tigens, France, next month.

ESPN has said in a statement that it will “conduct a thorough review of this discipline and adopt any appropriate changes to future X Games.”

Moore was injured on Thursday, Jan. 24, while competing in the X Games in Aspen Colorado. His snowmobile’s skis caught on the front of a ramp, flipped him into the air and landed on him.

Moore was initially up and walking around, and was taken to the hospital for what seemed like a concussion.

When bleeding was discovered around his heart, he underwent several emergency procedures, but died a week later on Thursday, Jan. 31.

Moore’s death is the first in the X Games, which is organized by ESPN. The first Winter X Games took place in Big Bear Lake, Calif. in 1997.

Do you think there should be any changes to the X Games in response to Moore’s death? Let us know on our Facebook page.

Warning: Some viewers may find the video of Caleb Moore’s crash disturbing.

New York Times: The X Games, Driven by Risk, Have First Death

Guest:

John Branch, sports reporter for The New York Times. He tweets @JohnBranchNYT.

We welcome comments from all of our listeners. Post below. Please stay on topic and be civil. Comments may be moderated by us, but you are solely responsible for the content of your comments.

http://pulse.yahoo.com/_Y6CO5C2HE4WM2OYGCDVWGPRXXM oldman

Here we go again – I remember there was once a show where regular people did “spectacular” stunts on TV. That died when they were stupid enough to let someone jump into the air while two cars collided below him – and got his legs crushed.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100003000884786 Navin R Johnson

The simplest answer would be to put a roll-cage on the snow machines. Any vehicle that may flip over and is heavy enough to kill the driver should have a roll-cage.
youngman

Look, it’s a sport, it may not be as well established as some other x games events but that doesn’t mean those involved don’t recognize the risks they’re taking. I have no problem with ESPN doing the whole “taking it seriously” schtick but in my opinion I think it would be sadder if this type of event disappeared because of this than not because it would show that those involved were not actually passionate and knowledgable about what they were doing.
- Vytas315
  
  I agree. If there had been negligence involved or if the participants were misled on the risks that would be one thing. There is no indication that that’s the case here. These were willing individuals involved in a high risk activity. Don’t take away freedoms just to make sure everyone lives. What would we be living for?
Jeffry Gottfried

I mourn the death of Caleb Moore and in no way want to minimize this tragedy. However, the concept of calling driving motorized vehicles of any kind, a sport is totally ridiculous to me. Snow mobiles, quads, dirt bikes and any other noisy polluting vehicle that races around the backcountry harrassing wildlife need not be put in the same category as running, hiking, ski-touring and snowshoeing. Aside from ruining the land, wildife habitat and the outdoor experiences of others, these motorized off-road vehicles appear to be self-limiting since they kill a lot of riders including many children and youth.

The bumper sticker produced by the organization, “Backcountry Hunters and Anglers” sums it up: “Use the quads that God gave you!”
IBA

I’d be curious to see what the ratio of freestyle snowmobile deaths to obesity issues is. Ban couches and TV, they are much more dangerous!
Pete Ziegel

I think its their decision, they know the risk. It is hard to watch though, I remember the death in the luge event at the olympics a few years ago.
AceBandAid

X Games should stick to safe sports, like high school sports. http://www.youthsportssafetyalliance.org/docs/stats-december2011.pdf