Day 1 from AK - Freeskiing Championships LIVE!

**grapedrink** · 04-11-2008, 10:01 PM

wow, glad i turned it off after samwichs run and didn't see that. two deaths in two years for such a small sport.. anyways, here's an interview i found:

http://aspen.plumtv.com/videos/john_nicoletta

**ag4eva** · 04-11-2008, 10:04 PM

So sorry to here about todays events, John you will be missed dearly.

**grizzle6** · 04-11-2008, 10:05 PM

Unbelievably tragic...don't really know what else to say except that I hope the best for his friends and family.

**woodsskier** · 04-11-2008, 10:12 PM

This sucks...vibes to all involved...especially all the Aspenites..you've had a tough couple weeks....

**hutash** · 04-11-2008, 10:13 PM

Vibes to family and friends.

I was hoping not to have to post that. I watched most of the comp. , but had to see a patient and missed John's run. The silence I came back too did not bode well.

I am sure the competitors meeting was a somber affair. As to continue or not, that is p to the athletes. If they choose to I will give my full support, if the as a group, or any individual choose not to; then I support that as well. Sometimes to continue on with the memory of some one such as John is the best way to deal with such an issue.

My thoughts are with all the athletes and support personnel at what must be a very difficult time.

Peace

**Mofro261** · 04-11-2008, 10:20 PM

So so sad. RIP John.

**ak_powder_monkey** · 04-11-2008, 10:24 PM

fuck fuck fuck fuck

**Raps** · 04-11-2008, 10:34 PM

Wow this is awful - thoughts and prayers to his family and friends

+++++

**tdav** · 04-11-2008, 10:37 PM

From our crew in Aspen, we will miss Nico more than words can say. His run today was a perfect example of how he lived his life, charging everyday, and always stoked to be out there with his friends. For anyone who watched, it was the 'what what' shout out he gave to the camera at the start that i will always remember. That was Nico, a badass ripper full of kindness and love for the sport of skiing, and all its participants.

You will never be forgotten Johhny. We love you bro

--Ted Dav

**LivinCO** · 04-11-2008, 10:46 PM

I was watching the comps online right before this happened! Unbelievable!
Wow, this is so shocking and sad. Condolences to John's family.

May you RIP John.

**Trackhead** · 04-11-2008, 10:50 PM

Condolences to friends, family, and community.

**Phatstix** · 04-11-2008, 10:52 PM

I can't say that I knew John very well, but this has hit me hard. Maybe it is the fact that when you ski with people, you get to know their real soul. Johnny had soul and it showed when he skied. He ripped, he was always cool, nice and ready to tear it up.

I know he will be missed by many, many people in Aspen and in the ski community.

To all you folks in AK from Aspen - don't forget why you are there. Don't come home empty handed. Don't forget why Johnny was there. Be SAFE, but don't leave anything on the table....John wouldn't.

Godspeed-

**f2f** · 04-11-2008, 11:02 PM

condolences

the whole thing is made even sadder by the fact that this happens exactly one year after Neal Valiton died in the Verbier Extreme competition...

**mojorisin** · 04-11-2008, 11:04 PM

WOW. this is truly horrible. sincere condolences to everyone affected by this.

**pointedem** · 04-11-2008, 11:13 PM

Thoughts and prayers out to family and friends from everyone in cottonwood.

**beaterdit** · 04-11-2008, 11:18 PM

Fuck.

When I saw nine pages I was afraid of something like this.

Vibes to John's friends and family , and all the competitors. And to my friends up there: Come home safe.

Sad day for skiing...

**stratodab** · 04-11-2008, 11:22 PM

Sending thoughts and prayers to John's family and friends. What a shame...

Must be a tough night for the other competetors too, though not as tough as it will be to click in and drop tomorrow and keep focused.

Just watched the vid. The Requiem for a Dream/ Clint Mansell music seems a little off, given these recent events.

Originally Posted by beaterd

And to my friends up there: Come home safe.

**Fresh Tracks** · 04-11-2008, 11:22 PM

I'm here covering the event and just returned from the athlete meeting. Organizers have decided they're going to run the rest of the competitors tomorrow, and that seemed to have the support of the athletes.

Competitors are going to hike up early and get a chance to share thoughts, prayers and vibes. No word on if tomorrow's the last day or not. Everyone is still processing the situation. People who were on top and at the bottom agree that it was just a tragic accident, John got unlucky and caught a tip in a bad spot. As awful as it was to watch, I'm convinced he was gone before patrol even got to him. It could have happened to any of the competitors.

**Gunder** · 04-11-2008, 11:24 PM

Originally Posted by f2f

condolences

the whole thing is made even sadder by the fact that this happens exactly one year after Neal Valiton died in the Verbier Extreme competition...

That coincidence is just freaky.

RIP John, and condolences to your family, friends and everyone up in AK at the finals.

**kush1** · 04-11-2008, 11:47 PM

Horrible accident and the worst thing I hope to ever see in person....

Originally Posted by alpinedad

Originally Posted by GoNads
All we got was a visual inspection from the bottom, you have no idea what your take offs and landings are like.

IMHO, the question is not whether comps should continue, but whether this should:

As far as this goes, with these venues I actually think it safer for visual inspection. Keeps the snow on the hill and the snow soft, no way would I want to ski these after 100+ people sideslip the venue.... but that is an argument for another day.

R.I.P John

**Fresh Tracks** · 04-11-2008, 11:47 PM

Here's the first story on the accident

Accurate for the most part, though the area he fell was definitely within the venue and had been hit by several other competitors.

**tkm5337** · 04-11-2008, 11:50 PM

unbelievably chilling news, love and prayers to the family and crew

to Rob and Hawks and the rest of you guys up there, please be safe

**The Dad** · 04-11-2008, 11:53 PM

Originally Posted by kush1

As far as this goes, with these venues I actually think it safer for visual inspection.

I'll defer to you on that; you've done this and I haven't. And my concern wasn't as much with the visual limit as with restricting it to the bottom, but I'm the first to admit that I don't know the mechanics of how you'd do it elsewhere without a heli (although a drone might work).

Regardless, enough Monday morning quarterbacking from me, because nothing I can say can bring him back.

R.I.P. John.

**GoNads** · 04-12-2008, 12:05 AM

Originally Posted by kush1

Horrible accident and the worst thing I hope to ever see in person....

As far as this goes, with these venues I actually think it safer for visual inspection. Keeps the snow on the hill and the snow soft, no way would I want to ski these after 100+ people sideslip the venue.... but that is an argument for another day.

R.I.P John

I fully agree with visual inspection, I was just pointing out to everyone that was calling competitors "pussies" for not taking heat into airs, or backing out, that it's a little different seeing stuff from a kilometer away versus having run after run of checking the takeoff and landings or even skiing them preemptively.

I prefer to ski without traverses or tracks, I'm just saying its a different game.

It could have been anyone, that line got hit multiple times, athan fell there earlier, sam hit that line right before him. It's very sobering, and its a wakeup call to everyone on how precious every day is.

John, you died with a smile on your face, and ski boots on your feet doing what you love, in a beautiful place. You will be missed by all of us..