Maine Surgeon Travels to Switzerland to Protect U.S. Snowboarders at Winter Olympics
A Maine orthopedic surgeon played a critical role in safeguarding the health of the U.S. Snowboard Halfpipe team leading up to the Milano Cortina Games, providing specialized medical support at a high-stakes training camp in Switzerland. Dr. Daniel Shubert, 49, of MaineGeneral Medical Center in Augusta, stepped in at the last minute to ensure the athletes were prepared for the physical demands and potential injuries inherent in the sport.
The risks are substantial. As Shubert observed, the athletes are launching themselves 20 feet above a 22.5-foot halfpipe, a fall from which would be comparable to falling from a three-story building. He immediately considered the potential for severe injuries: concussions, joint dislocations, clavicle fractures, and even blunt abdominal and chest trauma leading to lung punctures.
Shubert’s unexpected assignment came after the originally scheduled physician cancelled their trip. He quickly completed an acute traumatic injury training course and departed for Laax, Switzerland, on January 24th, just weeks before the Olympic halfpipe competitions began with qualifying rounds on February 6th and culminating in finals on February 8th.
In Laax, Shubert worked with a team of elite athletes, including Chloe Kim, the two-time Olympic snowboarding champion and a gold medal favorite; Maddy Schaffrick, making a remarkable return after a decade of retirement; Maddie Mastro, aiming for her first Olympic medal; Alessandro Barbieri, a 17-year-old known for his daring tricks; and Jake Pates, a veteran competing in his second Olympics. The team was coached by Danny Kass, a two-time Olympic medalist credited with popularizing the sport globally.
“I think what makes it stressful as the physician is they’re all so good,” Shubert said upon his return to Maine. “They hardly ever screw up, they’re so good at what they do. It’s highly unlikely you would go through a competition like the Olympics without someone sustaining an injury, but it’s pretty unpredictable.”
The training camp brought together athletes from nearly a dozen nations, all honing their routines on a halfpipe specifically chosen for its similarity to the one in Italy. While the U.S. team fortunately avoided any major injuries requiring immediate medical intervention, Shubert noted that several athletes were managing existing conditions. Kim, for example, competed in Wednesday’s qualifying run while wearing a brace to support a shoulder injury sustained during earlier training in January.
Shubert’s commitment to the team required him to postpone scheduled surgeries and clinic visits in Augusta, Oakland, and Waterville. He expressed gratitude for the understanding of his patients and colleagues at MaineGeneral. Beyond his immediate Olympic duties, Shubert is dedicated to elevating the standard of orthopedic sports medicine in central Maine, aiming to provide athletes with world-class care closer to home, eliminating the need to travel to larger cities like Portland or Boston.
This opportunity also highlighted the growing role of Maine in the world of elite athletics. Shubert noted a surprising number of connections between the athletes and Maine, or the state’s renowned Sugarloaf Mountain, giving him a sense of “street cred” among the international contingent. He also revealed that four athletes from Maine are competing for Team USA this month.
Shubert intends to continue working with the athletes in the future, building on the positive experience he had in Switzerland. For now, he plans to enjoy watching the Olympics from his home in Falmouth. “It’s a point of pride to be able to come from Maine and work with people like this on this sort of stage,” Shubert said, “and get people exposure to what we’re capable of here in Maine.”
