Sweden's first Olympic Games medalist in the sport (big air, 2022) has experienced one or two crashes on the ski slope. But none like the one during a training session in Kläppen in August.
In the large plastic jump on the ski resort, Henrik Harlaut, as usual, was supposed to land in the soft airbag, but flew too short.
I landed on the airbag, but not in the "landing". It's like a plateau and then the actual landing, and then there's a kind of edge in between. And I landed with half my body on the edge and half not. It was like my upper body sank more than my lower body, says Harlaut.
Has thrown away the crutches
So what happened?
The hip joint jumped out.
How did it feel?
Completely crazy, actually. My entire lower body was twisted. And all the muscles and everything just cramped. But it took like five-ten minutes before the pain came.
But it's probably the worst I've experienced in my career. At least when it comes to how long it takes to heal.
The first six weeks after the crash, the multiple X-games champion had to take it easy to let his hip stabilize. A couple of weeks ago, he could ditch the crutches and now he can strength train again, but with caution.
Nothing with weight downwards towards the hip. I have to sit down and train, but I still can't put maximum weight on my hip.
The season ruined
In late November, he will undergo an MRI to see how the healing is going. But that the entire season is being ruined is already clear. The last World Cup competition is held in French Tignes on 11-14 March.
I hope my body has reacted well. Then I should be able to start skiing, just cruising and skiing normally, around New Year's maybe. But then it will probably take until February-March before I'm fully restored.
Harlaut took a break from the national team and the World Cup after the Olympic bronze in 2022. Ahead of this season, he is back, with the Olympic Games in Milano/Cortina 2026 as one of the major goals. That the Games are over a year away is a small consolation, he says.
Completely clear. I have the whole way until next year to really make sure I'm in top form. That's what makes me a little more calm and makes sure it really heals in the right way, instead of rushing it and maybe getting a setback.
