Hobbs knocked out of World Cup racing

David Hobbs, a senior at Whitefish High School, was injured while racing in the Telemark World Cup in Germany on Saturday.

Hobbs, who is a member of the U.S. Telemark Team, came down hard on a jump during the men's giant slalom event, said Paul Lamb, of Whitefish, whose son Eric Lamb also competes on the U.S. team.

Lamb said the course at Bad Hindelang/Oberjock, Germany, is made of man-made snow and was like "blue ice" at the time. The conditions were also windy when Hobbs came down hard on his heels, Lamb said.

Hobbs may have fractured one vertebra and cracked another, but he was up and walking in the hospital by Monday afternoon, Lamb said.

"He wants to stay on and watch the World Championship this week in Switzerland," Lamb said.

Hobbs' mother flew out to see her son on Monday, and Dr. David Sobba, the team's doctor in Whitefish, was in communication with doctors in Germany about Hobbs' condition.

Hobbs had come in 29 out of 43 finalists in the men's sprint race on March 16, but the injury has ended his racing for the rest of this season.

Whitefish skier Kelsey Schmid-Sommer made a good showing at the World Cup. She finished the sprint race on March 16 in fifth place even though she fell, said her mother, Shelly Arbuckle.

Schmid-Sommer, who took first overall in the U.S. Telemark Nationals race in Steamboat Springs, Colo., earlier in March, placed seventh in the giant slalom and seventh in the classic.

Next up for the team is the Telemark World Championship in Thyon-Region, Switzerland, on March 20-25.

Results from the Telemark World Cup in Bad Hindelang/Oberjock, Germany, March 16-18:

Women's sprint, March 16 — Kelsey Schmid-Sommer, 5th out of 17 finalists, she was the only American.

Men's sprint, March 16 — Eric Lamb, 22nd, David Hobbs, 29th, seven Americans among the 43 finalists.

Women's giant slalom, March 17 — Schmid-Sommer, 7th out of 19 finalists, she was the only American.

Men's giant slalom, March 17 — Lamb, 22nd, six Americans among the 42 finalists.

Women's classic, March 18 — Schmid-Sommer, 7th out of 21 finalists, she was the only American.

Men's classic, March 18 — Lamb, 25th, six Americans among the 47 finalists.