Marc-Andre Belliveau Paralyzed

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Originally Posted by alto

I have a feeling Belliveau wouldn't accept such an offer. :cool:

So sad the way these things happen. As many others have said, Marc has such an amazing personality, and I'm sure that that will make it through this accident, stronger than before.

I first met him in 2000 or so at a summer camp on the Blackcomb glacier. Being five years older than me meant a lot more then than it does now, and I thought he was the international ski hero incarnate. I ran into him maybe a year or two later skiing the park at Park City. I was nervous in approaching him, wondering if he would remember me, but before I even spoke he caught me with a toothy, scraggly, friendly hello, wondering what I had been up too since we met. The same thing happened over the next couple years.

Last time I saw him was a wonderful Alta morning. I was skiing with my mom, she was dropping the Shoulder, and I would hit Bad News next to her. I came out to try a line and Marc was up top waiting for one of the TGR guys to set the camera up (Steve I think). "What's up man!" he practically shouted.

We were both looking at the same thing, but I didn't want to take his landing away for the shot. "Nah, I don't want to wait for the camera either, you go ahead anyway." So I took the offered fresh drop, Marc followed behind, we waved to Steve who's hands were freezing off on our way by, and we lapped with my mom from the angle station.

Next lap, same jump. Marc asks, "Are you going to try a trick?"
"I hadn't really thought about it, maybe... Are you?"
"Yeah, wan ay-tee," Marc says.
He drops in and pops this huge floating 180, just massive, even seen from above, and eats shit into the powder. My, turn, mom and Marc both watching, I drop in and chuck a backflip, arch it over, see my landing, and eat shit into Marc's crater.

I ski down to a half-shocked mom and a laughing Marc, and we wave to freezing-ass Steve as we ski by again.

With how many memories I have of the few times I've met Belliveau, and the ammount of people who he probably knows, I wonder how many amazing stories are out there.

Marc - Get well, you are an international ski hero!!

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don't know if it was exactly the same day, but my first tiem in bad news, and who is it but marc andre....HOLY SHIT...i'd seen him around the lodge, this was alta, but i wasn't sure...so he goes off the left of badnews and we figure out tgr is below...i was psyched, but i have no idea where i am, so me and my roomate op to just ski the chute and hit the little guy at the end...i mean i kind of view pro skiers on a pedastle, but in that moment he was just a dude skiing some gnar line...i will forever associate him with alta and badnews....this is fuckign depressing

++++++++get well bro +++++++

The first time I saw Marc was in TGR's High Life, and I knew this guy was something special. I've always thought of Marc as one of the greatest skier's in the world who just didn't get the recognition he deserved. He is one of my favorites.

With as much passion as you've devoted to your skiing, I'm sure your rehab will be a breeze, Marc. This accident is such a tragedy, but life isn't over. We all wish you the best. Stay strong bro!

sheesh, I don't know what to say...

He will always be one of my favorite people to watch ski....god, it just doesn't seem right. Shouldn't have happened to him.

I don't know him, I've never met him... but this hits me hard. He absolutely jumps off the screen, his personality radiates more than any other pro skier I've ever watched on film. This truly breaks my heart.

Marc, wishing you all the strength in the world. This industry needs you, I can't wait for your return....

People have been known to regain feeling again after paraylsis havent they? Shit man hope thats not permanent

Stem cells will heal Marc!

^ I dont think making bad jokes is helpin anyone right now asshole...

such a shitty deal, heal up marc well miss you around alta

all i feel is sadness, i don't even know how to express it. i knew Marc through Emily Moench and my sister, such a great guy with pure intentions to just ski.

here's to an incredible skier that has impacted this industry like no other. you really are one of a kind. best of luck and we're thinking of you.

c'mon guys/gals. Friggin' A, Marc is laughing right now like he always does, trying to be positive and saying "Marc Andre Bell-uh-voo" to his nurses repeated super fast like he did in Soul Purpose. We won't soon forget how infectious his laugh is and purely original personality has been because he's gonna be around for a long time to remind us of these. There is still life in him and that should be celebrated.

This year, no matter how tragic and somber it is becoming is not going to keep me down and is not going to make me even think about hanging up the sticks. No sir. Being 2-3 days away from death back in late Jan and having my melon drilled to save my life in early Feb has not kept me down and this injury, no matter how life altering will not keep Marc down. Of this I'm certain having known him.

Keeping it positve over here on the Wasatch back. Hang tough Marc! Up up up.

why is it that the worst luck falls on the best people? it seems like reverse fucking karma. Damn it. maybe it is because they are they strongest most capable of us maybe life just has a sick sense of humor.

We are here for you Marc. We will remain here for you. You remain you. You are the man. be strong.

jt

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Originally Posted by powstash

c'mon guys/gals. Friggin' A, Marc is laughing right now like he always does, trying to be positive and saying "Marc Andre Bell-uh-voo" to his nurses repeated super fast like he did in Soul Purpose. We won't soon forget how infectious his laugh is and purely original personality has been because he's gonna be around for a long time to remind us of these. There is still life in him and that should be celebrated.

This year, no matter how tragic and somber it is becoming is not going to keep me down and is not going to make me even think about hanging up the sticks. No sir. Being 2-3 days away from death back in late Jan and having my melon drilled to save my life in early Feb has not kept me down and this injury, no matter how life altering will not keep Marc down. Of this I'm certain having known him.

Keeping it positve over here on the Wasatch back. Hang tough Marc! Up up up.

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Great Post Powstash

Marc is strong and this will not be the last we see of him.

none of this seems right at all. tragic season.

people have been known to came back from this, and, if anybody can its MAB. Get back up and out soon. We all know you'll stay strong. Whatever happens, know that you've made an incredible impact on many peoples lives and the skiing community.

+++++++++++++++++++vibes++++++++++++++++

wishing you the best in recovery....

This year has ben tragic for sure

I agree - great post by Powstash. Here's to MAB being up and at em in no time at all

Get well Marc.

Our thoughts and prayers are with you.

If anyone can overcome this it is you.

Heal up, and get back on the slopes, anyway you can Marc. +vibes+

I read this with a heavy heart. Stay strong. Work hard. People love and admire the accomplishments that you have achieved in your life!
+++vibes+++

Sad news. I was following the other thread hoping to read that it was just an incomplete spinal cord injury.

For those of you that know marc and are close to him, stay close to him. After an injury it is easy (and popular) to show up and show support, but the true friends will be there after the novelty wears off. Treat him like you did before the injury and help him keep a positive outlook.

Good luck Marc, you'll be back on the slopes soon.

This truly sucks. I can only hope that some good comes from this and Doug Coombs death. Perhaps it will snap a few heads around and make people think twice when extremely talented skiers die or are seriously injured pushing the limits. I suspect that most of us have done it at some time. I count myself lucky to be fit and healthy today. Many of my pals have not been so fortunate and ulitmately, it was their deaths and injuries that caused me to real things in a bit. "Run away, run away, live to ski another day."

Positive vibes and all the best for you and your family.

Jibbing and Skiing and Sledding and such are all in the mind, no matter what you ride those skills will be hard to keep at bay, especially for such a fine athlete like Marc. I second AKPM's call to get a sled fund going for the guy.

Marc, you hung at my parents house watching S. Lloyd's slide show and have always been a good guy to hang with no matter where or what.

Technology is on your side and these days "paralyzed" only means long vacation. And just like any vacation, it must come to an end so stand and deliver my man!

So very sad, my thoughts are with you MAB.

keep your chin up, kid.

you never know how scientific advances could help you.

Awful news for sure, I have never met Marc but he was very nice to my wife when competing in Red this year. He skied up to her on the hill and met her with a large smile and enthusiasm when many others would just blow each other off. He seems like a guy whose personality is contagious and will continue to be.

our buddy Sam Fergueson is paralyzed from a mtn biking accident about 8 years ago. This year he skied highland bowl three times, fore-ran the superpipe at the xgames and placed second in the first sitski skiercross at the xgames, beating many us disabled team members.

there is a light Marc, you may not be skiing the same terrain but you will be skiing and with a heart as big as any on any mountain! Keep on

http://www.biglines.com/photos/blpic13506.jpg

You are always in our thoughts
Jane and Adam

Heres hoping he pulls through. Never met the guy, but in the movies I have seen, he is one of those people that just seems to radiate stoke for life. Good luck man. Hope we'll see you in more movies soon.

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Originally Posted by raddam

our buddy Sam Fergueson is paralyzed from a mtn biking accident about 8 years ago. This year he skied highland bowl three times, fore-ran the superpipe at the xgames and placed second in the first sitski skiercross at the xgames, beating many us disabled team members.

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I think I've seen your buddy on the hill. I work at Buttermilk, and was on my lunch break eating, kind of just idly watching the pipe, and all of a sudden I see a guy in one of the ski chairs air out like 3 feet over the lip. It blew me away and gave me a very nice warm fuzzy feeling.

Lots of well wishes to you, Marc. Sounds like you are a tremendous person and skiier. I'm sure we'll see you out there very soon!

I'm sure this is not the end of Marc's career, but perhaps the beginning of a new type of skiing for him.

I went to college with Chris Waddell who had a very bad skiing accident in our sophomore year and was paralyzed from the waist down. Less than one year later he was back on the hill in a sit ski. He went on to win countless golds in both skiing and track in the disabled olympics.

He was named one of Skiing Mag's top 25 skiiers - and an uplifting read about the resiliency the body has: http://www.skiingmag.com/skiing/face...328910,00.html

+++ vibes Mark +++

Stay strong and positive

I am so heartbroken. I, like many others who've posted--don't even know what to say. I only met MAB once, but admired and respected him many times over. He truly is a genuine individual. In the spirit of keeping positive, I look forward to the barriers you will break in the future MAB! You have so many behind you, and regardless of how dark and dismal the future may seem now, there is a light. We are all pulling for you, and you will make it. You will.

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Originally Posted by watersnowdirt

Lots of well wishes to you, Marc. Sounds like you are a tremendous person and skiier. I'm sure we'll see you out there very soon!

I'm sure this is not the end of Marc's career, but perhaps the beginning of a new type of skiing for him.

I went to college with Chris Waddell who had a very bad skiing accident in our sophomore year and was paralyzed from the waist down. Less than one year later he was back on the hill in a sit ski. He went on to win countless golds in both skiing and track in the disabled olympics.

He was named one of Skiing Mag's top 25 skiiers - and an uplifting read about the resiliency the body has: http://www.skiingmag.com/skiing/face...328910,00.html

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nice! This is the type of post Marc needs to hear! Keep positive Marc, please come to Highlands next year so we can pull you up the bowl, smoke a bowl, then rip the bowl with Sam and crew!

Stay strong Marc-Andre, we're all pulling for you!

Ive decided to pass along http://www.standstrongagain.org/ to that person in my life who e-mails me and the rest of the world daily jokes, blurbs, news, etc.. with instructions to send a blanket e-mail to their "list" asking people to donate a few bucks to Marks' cause.

If everyone reading this thread does the same, the network of people donating will increase exponentialy and Marc will have that many more fans helping him out.

DO IT NOW!

I'm hoping that that zeal will heal the deal.

positive vibes, stay strong Marc...

(||)

Give 'em hell, MAB. Attitude is everything when it's time to adapt after a loss.

See you on the slopes next season. :cool: Get back to the hucking and lighting up some gnar lines.

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Originally Posted by SkiED

^ I dont think making bad jokes is helpin anyone right now asshole...

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I wasn't joking. I am genuinely optimistic that stem cell research will provide a protocol for repairing damaged spinal cords, and am hopeful that Marc will benefit from this research.
http://www.firstscience.com/SITE/edi...s_15102004.asp

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At the heart of the new technique is the UCL teams demonstration in rats that it is possible for severed spinal cord nerve fibres to grow back and restore lost functions. In practice they say this could mean:
"that spinal cord patients will eventually be able to regain much of the ability to move that they have lost. For paraplegic patients this could lead to a return of sensation and movement to some leg muscles, potentially allowing them to stand and making movement easier, while tetraplegics (patients with spinal injury high in the neck region), could recover touch sensation and movement of the hands, and regain the ability to dress, feed and clean independently."

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Thanks for your PM, too, Eric Dorsey.

Very sad. Great skier who really stepped it up and gave us some great moments. Good luck and keep moving forward.

Very sad. I hope the difficult times for the skiing community will be remembered in next year's films.

Our prayers are with you MAB.

What a rough season.

Keep your head up and stay strong MAB.

Donation sent. I believe like most pro-skiers MAB has a small and limited amount of financial help. Although he is Canadian and has a much better opportunity for medical assistance than his American counterparts, no medical insurance covers the family's financial burden that comes along with taking time off work to assist with rehab and many of the other finincial obliagtions that aren't associated with paying a doctor.

Anyone that has watched in awe MAB's skiing prowess in my opinion is obligated to help a man that suffered a tragic accident trying to push the sport we all love.

Please donate to http://www.standstrongagain.org/ Help marc.