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Steve Vanderhoek Shares Video of Crash That Resulted in Concussion, Broken Collarbone, Rib & Sternum

Aug 10, 2022 at 11:57
by Sarah Moore  


Steve Vanderhoek has shared the news on Instagram that he suffered a concussion, broken collarbone, broken rib, cracked sternum and a small pneumothorax in a recent crash. He went over the handlebars at the bottom of a feature he'd hit countless times, during the 2022 Tour de Gnar event that he pioneered alongside Yoann Barelli.


bigquotesTour de Gnar 2022 bit me with my own feature! What a way to start a day at 6:00am. I got a little carried away on a something I had hit countless times in the past and just picked up too much speed and slipped a pedal just before the exit. Big OTB resulting in a concussion, broken collar bone, broken rib/cracked sternum and a small pneumothorax. Definitely not the way I wanted to start that day but you gotta pay to play.

Last year @yoannbarelli and I started the tour de Gnar to display some of the coolest freeriding in the sea to sky and to test ourselves physically and mentally to the limit. This year was more about inviting a bunch of friends out to share this place we love so much and encourage everyone to progress in a super positive environment. Was still amazing to sit back and see everyone just crush it that day.. my mind was blown by the level of skill everyone brought to the table. Everyone with their own unique abilities. Love you all!—Steve Vanderhoek

Watch the video from the 2021 Tour de Gnar, where Yoann Barelli and Steve Vanderhoek send the gnarliest features in the Sea to Sky in one day and watch the warm up video for the 2022 Tour de Gnar here.

We wish Steve all the best with his recovery from this injury and can't wait to see him back on the bike once he's fully recovered.

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135 Comments
  • 124 0
 Remy breaks his back, Steve breaks his collarbone and ribs. Yoann better stay home with the kids for awhile and let this crash streak pass.
  • 16 111
flag RednBlack802 (Aug 10, 2022 at 12:27) (Below Threshold)
 People should do what they want on their free time. I Just hope he banked a bunch of PTO/Sick leave so that he doesnt have to rush back to work. It's ok to let your boss down sometimes, they aint your daddy.
  • 116 1
 @RednBlack802: he’s a Canadian firefighter. Dude will have plenty of time to recover. He’s not boned like most would be down in the states. And he won’t have a big fat hospital bill to go with it!
  • 3 0
 when did remy break his back? recently?
  • 306 7
 Bruni is injured, Vergier is injured, Remy is injured, Steve is injured, should I go underground and hide for a few months??
I'm going to ride my bike, and I'm going to send it, big or small, when I feel like it !!
  • 3 0
 @sethbuckner:

www.pinkbike.com/news/remy-metailler-fractures-3-vertabrae-while-riding-with-kilian-bron.html
  • 8 1
 @yoannbarelli: Safety first! Time to invest in a zorb? www.amazon.com/zorb-ball/s?k=zorb+ball
  • 9 1
 @toast2266: People killed in Zorb

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qw5bDGm7tYo
  • 21 4
 @yoannbarelli: Yoann, wasn’t suggesting you quit riding or going big, shit happens, was just joking about staying home with kids, though sometimes when all your bros are getting hurt it can mess with your head and a day off or two being distracted helps, but you know that. Keep sending it!
  • 8 13
flag scott-townes FL (Aug 10, 2022 at 13:55) (Below Threshold)
 @yoannbarelli: Friggen right bud, keep on. Its almost like its an inherently dangerous sport! Jeeze, who would have guessed?


There are a lot of people interested in watching it but it doesn't mean they understand it like wolfiedoodies here.
  • 2 0
 @yoannbarelli: the mind state of a legend.

It was great to see you mixing it up with the EWS. Your pace was certainly above just 'blowing out the cobwebs'.
  • 7 4
 @Bm1117: @Bm1117: hopefully the ER was actually open at the hospital he went to
vancouversun.com/news/local-news/more-weekend-er-closures-put-pressure-on-b-c-health-minister-for-long-term-fix
  • 3 1
 @Bm1117: Ha! True... I'm not sure I would want my Chief seeing footage of what i do off shift.
  • 9 3
 @ridelife6: for sure. I’m a dual citizen and split time between countries. Got broke off in Whistler one year and had some pretty extensive hand injuries. There wasn’t one doctor in BC who could do the procedures. They made me drive all the way down to Seattle so I could get fixed up right. Definitely some trade offs with the healthcare. Still think universal healthcare is the way to go though, I’m just more careful now!
  • 1 0
 @yoannbarelli: Send it!
  • 1 0
 @yoannbarelli: The legend speaks.
  • 2 0
 @yoannbarelli: please enjoy riding as much as possible until you're 99
  • 1 0
 @yoannbarelli:
Boss
  • 1 0
 @yoannbarelli: Yes Mate ! I will watch. Keep on sending it
  • 2 0
 @yoannbarelli: I broke my leg on Saturday. So you’ll be fine! I took a fall so you don’t have to.

But yeah it’s the price we sometimes pay!
  • 1 0
 @toast2266: ZORB!!
  • 2 0
 @likeittacky: People will get killed doing anything. We have evolved to the be the smartest and dumbest species at the same time. People choke on waffles and walk off cliffs staring at phones.
  • 1 0
 @gossman: Somewhat true, although "Killed" is typically from someones negligence, died is from your own or just natural, chocking on waffles has nothing to do with either... any number of things could cause chocking on food; there is a difference. The freak Zorb accident was IMO.. killed.
  • 39 0
 As a man with much less experience or talent, I would like to offer my advice to this seasoned pro….
-the pink bike comments
  • 4 10
flag 10DollarHelmet10DollarHead (Aug 10, 2022 at 17:59) (Below Threshold)
 The video got 4,782 likes on Instagram. That is kind of demented when you think about it.
  • 10 1
 Speedy recovery Steve!

Is it just me, or is anyone else surprised by how little protection these guys wear when riding this rowdy? I guess if you bail you are Faffed either way so why bother?
  • 9 2
 I wonder if any of the listed injuries would have been prevented if he was wearing some upper body protection? Like some shoulder/chest/back protection doesn't seems like too bad of an idea if you're hucking yourself down massive rock slabs
  • 5 1
 Chest and back protection would have helped with the sternum and rib injuries ... maybe even collar bone (depends on how it was impacted)?
  • 6 1
 Brutal! Heal up Steve. You have been one of the highlights of bike porn for the past couple of years! Everything was going great until that pedal slip... Is he clipped in or was that just a typical pedal slip? Either way, heal up!
  • 6 0
 I believe he rides flats
  • 6 0
 You play with fire, you're gonna get burned at some point. Steve goes big & this time it bit him. He's young, so he will heal up. Plus he's a fireman, so he has the best benefits you can get.
  • 5 0
 What is a "Small Pneumothorax"? From what I know about them (admittedly not that much) that's a friggin hole in your lung and essentially you lung hole starts filling up your chest cavity with air as you try to breathe. If its bad enough the pressure will cause your lungs to collapse. They have to hit you Pulp Fiction Style with a giant ass needle to relieve the pressure. That is some serious shit!

I am low key kind of interested in how these guys responded to the accident and what is the best course of action should we find ourselves in a similar situation.
  • 32 0
 Hey man! The fractured rib put a small hole in the lung but the doctor said it leaked some air but closed up. I have to head back in tomorrow for chest x rays to check on the condition of it
  • 4 0
 @stevev88:
1)Glad to see that you are okay, at least well enough to reply to comments on here. Hope everything heals up fast and complete!

2) I didn't know a lung puncture could do that! Glad to hear it took care of itself! Did you guys have a medical kit or personnel on standby?
  • 11 0
 @ripridesbikes: thanks man! Ya we had 2 trauma doctors on site
  • 1 0
 @stevev88: I did that a couple of years ago. Don’t you love the part where they twist that little vacuum tube in their to expand your lung? It was pretty uncomfortable for me, but then boom, it’s better in a day and you just have a broken rib! Magic stuff really I think
  • 2 0
 @stevev88:

Heal up bro!
  • 2 0
 @stevev88: Speedy recovery Steve!
  • 9 0
 @stevev88: You know its gonna be a hell of a ride when you took 2 doctors with you Big Grin
  • 1 0
 @stevev88: I cracked my sternum a few years ago hucking a cliff on skis. Was back at in next to no time. Just don't hang out with the funny people for a bit, laughing is a bitch. Heal up quick.
  • 8 0
 That is wild... Heal up Steve!
  • 8 0
 He just got married too :/
  • 13 4
 He also may have been offered a Sandwich someone found in a Hole.
  • 1 1
 Wasnt that Yoann?
  • 1 1
 @LaXcarp: nope, Steve
  • 8 0
 @LaXcarp: both of them
  • 9 1
 @BrotherCraig75: double whammy. The guy can't catch a break!
  • 3 0
 Someone told me on here that his now wife is usually the one who does all his filming. I could be wrong and they could be wrong. But man, that would of been rough for her
  • 5 1
 Heal up Steve, your riding is an inspiration to many. I'm just on the mend from scapula spine fracture so I know how much it sucks to be off the bike for bit. Probably not feeling it right now but honestly, time flies and you'll be back before you know it. Relax, get lots of sleep, kick back, enjoy the sun and have a few beers while planning your comeback. Cheers !
  • 6 0
 Man, this summer is taking no prisoners. Reading this from a hospital bed. 4th day in here after collapsing my lung riding.
  • 3 0
 Speedy recovery to you!
  • 1 0
 Got my tube out today, what a relief. That thing was so uncomfortable. Officially done sending it. Gotta be around to raise my kids.
  • 1 0
 @konadan: thats great news! Yeah no need to prove anything, just gotta fight the itch and enjoy the ride.
  • 3 0
 Putting the in sickness or health clause to test early... big congrats to Steve on the wedding!! Heal well, the internet just got more boring with him and Remi out. Risk and reward is always a tricky balance, can't wait to watch @stevev88 shredding again!!
  • 5 0
 Heal up Steve!
Broke my sternum ski jumping decades ago and it reminds me every morning with a "POP".
  • 6 0
 We love ya Steve! Heal up quick. Back on the bike in no time!
  • 3 0
 on video it looks not all that steep or crazy then when you see steve and his bike fly like that you really understand the severity of the line. heal up man sorry that happened.
  • 6 1
 So horrible to watch, heal up quick Steve! Thinking of you and Kelsey.
  • 2 0
 Man I HATE seeing OTB crashes, they can cause severe damage so quickly even at low speed... Hoping for a quick and successful recovery for you..
  • 4 4
 I never get why they just ride in an tank top or just jersey... yeah you are pro but still this shit happens quick. Especially with this gnarly stuff. At least get a protection vest to protect your breast and back. get well soon buddy!!!
  • 2 1
 those just let you slide and save the skin, they must distribute the force a little but are not going to stop collarbone/shoulder injuries. Maybe ribs, maybe.
  • 5 1
 when you've got the bike skills, feeling comfortable will prevent more injuries than 99% of added pads. this happened to be a 1% scenario
  • 3 2
 @captaindingus: I get what you are saying but I am going to have to respectfully disagree. Would you make the same argument about helmets? When asked about his worse injury Jordi Lunn said it was probably the accumulation of 13 concussions over his career. Dude had tons of skill.
  • 1 0
 @DKlassen8: i would not make the same argument regarding helmets. but would you make the argument that head injuries and body injuries are equivalent? i would think not.

regardless, the helmets from jordies era did not do a whole lot for concussions when compared with modern technology. they more or less just stopped skull fractures. i understand where you are coming from but i dont think your argument has much merit
  • 1 0
 Ouch. That appeared to be going well. He got through all the sketchy parts I thought he was home free. Then split second and what a brutal rag doll. Heal up! Positive healing vibes.
  • 2 0
 I slipped and fell on my bathroom floor this morning. Landed on my hip. I can understand how older folk break hips like that.
  • 3 0
 It’s always on stuff you’ve ridden many times before
  • 2 0
 Dayum! That was a heavy slam, heal up dude!
  • 1 0
 Geez that rock slab was riddled with spectators! Hope you heal fast Steve !!
  • 4 1
 heal up my guy
  • 3 1
 They don't call it "the Gnar" for nothing.
  • 2 0
 That bike took a wild ride after he flung it. Heal fast Steve!
  • 3 1
 Am I seeing his helmet flying off and hit his bike?
  • 2 0
 yeah it looks like this
  • 1 0
 What is the white thing that locked up his back wheel near the bottom!?!?!?
  • 1 0
 Pedal slip caused the crash. So, was he on flats or clipless?
  • 2 0
 Flats
  • 1 0
 Hard to watch - hope you heal well Steve.
  • 1 0
 it's no joke breaking your sternum...that's serious trauma impact.
  • 1 0
 Man that sucks buddy! Hope you heal up quick Smile
  • 1 0
 Fuckin all it takes. Sucks how fast it happens. Heal up
  • 1 0
 Im not watching the video, i hate seeing things go south. Get better SV!
  • 1 0
 Hard imagine Tour the gnar 2 without Steve. Hope we see You soon on bike!
  • 3 0
 Thanks bro! Was so sad to miss it !
  • 1 0
 Man Steve, that is brutal! Heal up and feel better soon brother!
  • 2 1
 Totally worth it though
  • 1 0
 Yikes,,,heal up brother!
  • 10 12
 6:00 in the morning is to early to ride much less do anything gnarly..just saying
  • 4 10
flag brodoyouevenbike (Aug 10, 2022 at 12:17) (Below Threshold)
 All my injuries from bike crashes and sprained ankles from trail running have happened early in the morning or on days that I had to be up early to ride/run. Totally avoid
  • 9 0
 6am at my location is the perfect time to START riding otherwise it is too hot. Many times I start at 5am, and am quite awake by the time the climb is over.
  • 1 0
 Yeah no judgement, Steve is a rad biker, but I would think you would want to be pretty warmed up for that sort of line.
  • 3 17
flag bocomtb FL (Aug 10, 2022 at 12:56) (Below Threshold)
 @MT36: According to Yoann's Instagram they started around 3:30 AM. So he's warmed up but maybe a bit sleep deprived?

And please everyone...avoid riding between 6:00 and 9:00 AM. It's for your own good. Dangerous predators, hard to get a proper PRD in, early morning sunlight is hard on your eyes. Just wait till after work. I emphasize: FOR YOUR OWN GOOD.
  • 5 0
 @bocomtb: I'm tired after work...so now what, I don't get to ride?
  • 8 0
 @brodoyouevenbike: You know you get used to waking up early if you do it often?
  • 5 0
 Riding that early around here just means you're the sucker who gets to clear out the spiderwebs for everyone else.
  • 4 0
 I’d put forth an opposite school of thought for consideration… much better to set a deadline of when is too late to do gnarly stuff. Doing dangerous things early in the day (once you’ve warmed up and had a coffee or three) maximizes available time for medivacs/rescue before night falls if it all does hit the fan.
  • 2 0
 @HB208: Yeah dude, I've done 5 am days for years in a row, but even then, my mind is awake and ready for work at that time, but my body is not awake until 10:00 or so. Morning gym sessions are a waste of time for me for that reason.
  • 3 0
 I have surfed overhead waves, skateboarded, skied, and mountainbiked before 6 am on lots of days, to the point where I was definitely acclimitized to it. Yeah you can do it, but it really is not the same as waiting until later in the day. My body just wasn't performing as well as later in the day. I think it is a small margin of athletic performance you gain when you wait until your body is loose, but small margins make a big difference on lines like Steve's. If you think about it, if your body is lying down for 6-10 hrs, it takes time to transition. I never found any amount of coffee that could compensate for this.
  • 1 4
 you gotta pay to play
  • 2 8
flag dancingwithmyself (Aug 11, 2022 at 3:57) (Below Threshold)
 Not so sure about the bravado of that line, especially in this case. Steve seems really cool, getting hurt is part of riding hard, and the US safety net is a mess in many ways, but aren't Steve's fellow Canadians the ones that are going to do the actual paying in this case, both for healthcare and time away from work?
  • 8 0
 @dancingwithmyself: that’s how insurance works. Everyone pays in (in this case through taxes) and everyone receives the benefits.

It’s no different that if you were injured and used your insurance coverage here in the US. Aren’t others paying for that too?
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