Canadian skier Zoricic dies in World Cup race

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Canada's Nick Zoricic has died competing in a ski cross World Cup event in Grindelwald on Saturday, organisers announced.

The 29-year-old crashed heavily into safety netting and succumbed to his injuries.

"Despite reanimation Zoricic died as a result of severe neurotrauma," organisers Swiss-Ski reported in a statement.

Zoricic came to grief after a jump just before the finish on the Grindelwald slope. Lying motionless he was attended to by doctors, but was pronounced dead at 1135GMT, Swiss-Ski reported.

Zoricic switched to ski-cross after beginning his career as an alpine skiier. He had two podium finishes and came in sixth in the 2011 overall standings.

After the tragedy organisers cancelled Saturday's competition and Sunday's World Cup final.

Ski cross made its debut as an Olympic discipline at the Vancouver Games in 2010.