Asa Vermette Fractures Hip in Tennessee National Crash

Mar 25, 2024
by Ed Spratt  

Frameworks Racing has shared an update that Asa Vermette will be recovering for eight to twelve weeks after a finals run crash at the 2024 Tennessee National downhill race.

After setting the fastest Elite Men's seeding time and leading finals through the first two splits, Asa Vermette slid out during his run and fractured his iliac crest on his right hip. Asa's team, Frameworks Racing, have provided an update on his condition, stating he will not need surgery with a recovery time of eight to twelve weeks.

bigquotesInjury Update: Our doood Asa Vermette slid out in his race run and fractured his iliac crest on his right hip yesterday. It’s a pretty straightforward injury, no need for surgery, 8-12 week recovery time is what we were told here at UT Medical. He will see a specialist when he gets back home to Colorado this week for more info.

No pressure for him to rush back! He’s got a lot of years ahead of him. We’ll have the rig warm and ready whenever he is.—Frameworks Racing

We wish Asa all the best with his recovery and hope he is back riding and racing soon.

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74 Comments
  • 155 0
 2024 in a nutshell

Slopestyle riders: We won't compete because we want more pay!
DH Riders: We won't compete because we are all injured!
Enduro Riders: No one knows that we are competing!
  • 21 1
 XC feels like the F1 of the mtb world this year, DH feels like Group B rally but the part where it was getting bad. Enduro is Dakar!! You'll only see bits of racing
  • 1 2
 Ngl, there is still a ton of top step DH racers in action
  • 1 4
 It's important to note that the top riders are asking for pay for the alternates and proper treatment as world class athletes, to degrade the request to more money please is extremely short sighted. Perhaps we should compare their "benefit package" to that of f1 drivers...
  • 1 0
 @lehott: quite accurate
  • 58 0
 He was in first place I believe on the first two splits at the TN national as well ahead of Norton. Was really looking forward to seeing what he could do at the WC junior level this year.
  • 15 0
 I had the exact same injury a few summers back - i think/hope he'll back in full form by the second round. I was riding hard again by eight weeks, and im sure Asa is going to be dedicating pretty much all of his time to recovery
  • 1 4
 Depending on how bad the break is, He could miss most of the WC season.
  • 2 0
 @two-plank: He has youth on his side. At his age, they bounce back pretty quick.
  • 3 3
 Asa is gonna keep hammering. He's America's last and greatest hope.
  • 3 0
 @scott-townes: Hopefully not last, he's great though.
  • 5 0
 @scott-townes:
He's hot for sure but Americas's last hope? Nah.. Seems US DH is going strong.
  • 1 0
 Hoping his recovery is as mind blowing as his speed. Knowing he’s human only put more pressure on the racers near or nipping at his heels.
  • 1 0
 Hoping his recovery is as mind blowing as his speed. Knowing he’s human only put more pressure on the racers near or nipping at his heels.
  • 1 0
 @scott-townes:
“Help me Obi-Wan Kenobi, you’re my only….”
  • 36 0
 NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO !

Was waiting to view results / watch the produced version (where ya at Mangler?) and it sucks to hear he didn't place & got wacked. Kid is easily one of the raging-est riders any of us have seen. Hoping ya heal up fast dude. We need to see ya in the WC Jr results this year.
  • 2 0
 It's been on YouTube since yesterday! You know Mangler, Drew, Rich, and that whole crew got it on lock!
youtu.be/nLeCQvuic4U?si=lQYCBIqnwMBWEXVD
  • 2 0
 @wako29: DOH !!!!!! How'd I miss that? I thot it would be 2-3 days. Production time dropping for those guys - prob won't be long before they can do mtb only content, which would be insane.

Thx for the tip amigo
  • 2 0
 @Mtn-Goat-13: ya man, they're the best. For most races, they will stay up the night of the race and edit at least a highlight reel. They have it down to a pretty good science now
  • 25 1
 Recover well, you are one of the best alredy.
  • 7 2
 Yeah, his run was absolutely amazing, hope he can get to the WC while it's still there.
  • 20 1
 It's so great that Mullaly and Frameworks are putting no pressure on him to return and holding his spot on the team. Let him heal properly and we'll so he can keep on racing for a long time.
  • 2 0
 Considering Neko broke his pelvis last season (at Windrock too interestingly enough) that would be pretty messed up if they were anything but accommodating to Asa.
  • 3 0
 I believe Neko said Asa has an equity based contract in one of the many podcast interviews he did. Would have to imagine they're thinking very long term here.
  • 3 0
 Why would you give his spot up to anyone.
  • 1 0
 @on-the-move: I mean I wouldn't if I was running the team, the kid has talent for days.
  • 18 0
 Heal as fast as you ride! Smile
  • 9 2
 Where is ChrisMac to tell Asa that he should not have been racing at anything but a UCI WC event? I was looking forward to seeing Asa’s performance thru out the year, guess one will have to wait a little. Hope the recovery goes well.
  • 1 2
 This wasn’t a redbull event.
  • 8 0
 Well damn that’s awful.
  • 1 18
flag danstonQ (Mar 25, 2024 at 10:17) (Below Threshold)
 Awful??? This word is a bit strong Bunny.
  • 5 0
 That’s the best way to break a hip, did mine a couple years ago and was able to walk out of the hospital and was back on a bike in three weeks. Hope Asa’s recovery is smooth!
  • 1 0
 Sucks Asa crashed and got injured (especially after setting the fastest qual time) but glad to hear he will not have to have surgery. Last year I randomly met Asa in passing at a WC. Heal up and look forward to seeing Asa back on the bike!
  • 1 0
 I had an acute fracture of the right iliac crest, Oct 9 2022. Back on the bike Nov 23 2022. Felt 100% by Spring. 45 year old male with dad bod. The worse part was as the bruising reduced all the dark blood migrated with gravity, my junk went full black for 3 weeks.
  • 3 0
 I heard you can’t go back after going black
  • 4 0
 Damn, top young guns on IR
  • 3 0
 Isn't this the same track and injury that put Neko out? I hope your rehab goes smooth and quick.
  • 4 0
 yeah windrock has a reputation for either breaking bikes or breaking bodies
  • 2 0
 Gutted ! He’s young, hopefully he heals up fast. Love that the team knows he is still young with a long career ahead of him so no need to rush the process.
  • 2 0
 Damn heal up solid and strong Asa. We are REALLY looking forward to what you can do at on the World Cup stage.
  • 3 0
 Heal up buddy, we're rooting for you.
  • 1 0
 I had the exact same injury in 2021 with a laceration www.pinkbike.com/photo/20770350 www.pinkbike.com/photo/20770352
Have a quick recovery Asa!
  • 1 0
 Wishing Asa all the best. So damn excited to have someone with his level of talent coming out of the Southwest onto the WC scene.
  • 2 0
 Heal up Asa. Your first world cup will still be epic
  • 1 1
 I'm sorry to say this, but maybe we should sacrifice a bit of coolness for safety and make protectors compulsory. Like it was normal in the 90s, but now it's just compulsory
  • 1 0
 That's gotta hurt bad - some big muscles attached to that crest
  • 1 0
 No one is greater than reality
  • 1 0
 Lad was on a heater, such a shame he went down and sustained injury.
  • 1 0
 Bummed for the kid. Heal up soon!
  • 1 0
 Noooo! Man, this sport is heartbreaking sometimes
  • 1 0
 That impact looked hard.
  • 10 11
 Young guns getting hurt = kids learning their limits.
One can only race with reckless abandon until they wreck.
  • 24 3
 You have obviously never seen Asa ride. I would not describe it as reckless abandon. Calm, smooth, precise, and in control is a much better description of his style.
  • 4 0
 @BetterRide: all of that plus reallly, really fast.
  • 1 0
 Pushing the limits within his riding abilities isn't being reckless
  • 6 2
 Too bad you got the downvotes. As the parent of a 12yo DH racer, I can verify this in my personal experience.

I don’t think people on this website really understand that DH is really f*ckin gnarly.

There is a percentage of recklessness in each racer’s run. That’s why it’s so hard to win a world cup. Imagine that all these elite racers have more than enough skill to cancel out the risks, but choose still to push that risk further. If they don’t they aren’t competitive.
  • 5 5
 @freeridemafia420: If they are being reckless, they will never become outstanding riders/racers.

As for your statement, "I don’t think people on this website really understand that DH is really f*ckin gnarly." I can't speak for everyone here but I've spent the last 25 years coaching mountain biking skills.

The top racers are never reckless, they are very calculating and very confident in their skill set. They do take calculated risks as you have to in all sports.

If your 12-year-old is reckless, get him to stop. What he needs is a solid skill set. Before a rider tries to go as fast as Loic Bruni, he should become as skilled as Loic Bruni.

You can't put speed before skills, though many riders try to do just that.

Watch the video of the race. Asa wrecked in a strange place, either on or coming off a flat wooden bridge. His run looked smooth and completely in control until that point. Like Bruni, he's a really skilled and fast rider, not reckless in any way.
  • 8 4
 When I say reckless, I am referring to the perspective that charging down a mountain, towards a valley, through a forest, is inherently reckless, no matter how skilled you are. It’s also a shitload of fun. Obviously Asa was out of control, he got a potentially season ending injury. Just swinging your leg over the top tube and pointing towards the fall line has an element of recklessness to it. No matter how good you are, you could end up in the ER. That’s a reckless situation and god damn it’s awesome.

If we could develop enough skills to make MTB completely safe, we could call it alpine skiing. Thank goodness it’s actually challenging and dangerous.

My kid is calculating, technically proficient, and dedicated. Despite all this, we know any given run could take him out. There’s just too much not in our control, no matter how good we like to think we are.

Thanks for your presumptuous rant though. Keep telling people MTB is safe as long as you’re good enough Smile
I’m sure your students eat that up.
  • 3 0
 @freeridemafia420:
Just curious, have you ever rode or raced that turn that Asa washed out in?
  • 1 0
 @BetterRide: Reading comprehension is your friend
  • 3 0
 @freeridemafia420: you think alpine skiing is completely safe?
  • 1 0
 @freeridemafia420: your right...people on freeride based website don't understand how gnarly dh racing is...
  • 1 1
 @freeridemafia420: he was not out of control. His rear wheel clipped a rock on a line he and probably 7 other riders on the planet have the CONTROL to hit.
  • 1 0
 Noooo!! Not him!!
  • 1 0
 Damn, heal up
  • 1 0
 heal up quickly homie.
  • 1 0
 Young bones heal quick
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