Skydiver star injured in crash near Wanaka

World champion skydiver Loic Jean-Albert has been injured in a paraglider crash near Wanaka.

The 30-year-old Frenchman crashed near the Treble Cone ski area access road on Tuesday night during a speed-riding flight ahead of the inaugural New Zealand Air Games in Wanaka next week.

Speed riding involves pilots travelling low to the ground while completing a slalom course.

The star skydiver, who only arrived in New Zealand from Europe two days before the crash, continued flying and landed at the bottom of the hill where he was treated by St John Ambulance staff.

St John Ambulance communications in Christchurch said the sportsman was taken by helicopter to Dunedin Hospital where he was being assessed for possible pelvic injuries.

Dunedin Hospital duty co-ordinator Wayne McLachlan said Jean-Albert was now in a stable condition in a general ward. He could not comment on the injuries the skydiver sustained or when he was likely to be discharged.

Jean-Albert is described in New Zealand Air Games publicity as skydiving's biggest star.

He is the current world champion and was named skydiver of the decade, having completed more than 11,000 jumps.

Games spokeswoman Victoria Murray-Orr said the Frenchman would miss next week's event and she was unsure whether he would remain in New Zealand or be sent home for treatment.

"In all extreme sports there's an element of risk and, unfortunately for Loic, the odds were against him," she said.

"Thank goodness the injuries are not life-threatening."

- © Fairfax NZ News