Aussie para-snowboarder Matthew Robinson in critical condition after race crash

MELBOURNE para-snowboarder Matthew Robinson is in a critical condition in hospital in Barcelona after a racing accident.

Para-snowboarder Matthew Robinson

MELBOURNE para-snowboarder Matthew Robinson is in a critical condition in hospital in Barcelona after a racing accident yesterday.

The 29-year-old was competing in the IPC Snowboard World Cup finals in La Molina, Spain, when he suffered neck and spinal injuries.

Robinson was flown to the Parc Tauli Sabadell Hospital in Barcelona where he underwent surgery and remains in a critical condition.

A member of the Australian Paralympic Winter Team’s medical staff is at the hospital in Barcelona and the APC has been in contact with Matthew’s fiancee and family in Australia to offer support.

It is believed the accident happened in the finish area of the course.

Para-snowboard cross will make its debut at next month’s Sochi Paralympic Winter Games but Robinson’s classification will not be contested and he was not selected in Australia’s 11-person team.

Robinson, who has an arm impairment, competes in the upper limb classification in para-snowboard cross and is currently leading the IPC World Cup rankings.

This year he has competed in three IPC World Cup events and on Tuesday he finished fourth in the first men’s upper limb impairment race in La Molina.

The APC is also currently working with the Australian Embassy in Spain, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Australia, as well as the Australian Institute of Sport and International Paralympic Committee.

Australia will send three snowboarders to the Sochi Games from March 7-16, including 14-year-old Ben Tudhope, 41-year-old Trent Milton and Joany Badenhorst.