Olympic Ski Halfpipe Qualifier Filled With Scary Crashes

Finland's Jon Sallinen collides with a cameraman during the men's halfpipe qualification at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Zhangjiakou, China, on Feb. 17, 2022. Francisco Seco/AP Photo

ZHANGJIAKOU, China—Freestyle skier Jon Sallinen’s first run in Olympic halfpipe qualifying Thursday wasn’t picture perfect. He drifted out of the halfpipe and collided with a cameraman.

Collarbone aching, the 21-year-old from Finland picked himself up and tried it again in run No. 2—only to fall once more and have to make the walk up the pipe to retrieve one of his ski poles.