U.S. skiers felled in hard crashes at Sochi Paralympics

The warm weather that made for tricky conditions during the 2014 Sochi Olympics has stuck around for the Paralympics.

Competing under sunny skies, two American women crashed hard in the super-G on Monday and had to be removed from the mountain by helicopter.

U.S. team officials reported by Twitter that Alana Nichols and Stephani Victor were “conscious and responsive� in the aftermath of their accidents.

Nichols was expected to contend for the podium after finishing second in the sitting classification of the women’s downhill on Saturday. She previously made history by winning gold in wheelchair basketball at the 2008 Summer Paralympics as well as four skiing medals at the 2010 Winter Paralympics.

U.S. athlete Laurie Stephens eventually won bronze in the sitting super-G. Teammate Stephanie Jallen won bronze in the standing category.

Unseasonal temperatures have made the cross-country course difficult. Earlier in the competition, American skier Tyler Walker flipped during the men’s sitting downhill and had to be airlifted to a hospital.

“I totally got a ride in a Russian helicopter, though!� he later tweeted.

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