Dear Editor:

I was very saddened to read of the passing of Caleb Moore, the young snowmobile rider who was critically injured in the X games. I, and many others, I am sure, had said prayers that he might recover.

We have two sons just a few years older than this young man’s age 25. They have both been to the emergency room several times for accidents in skiing extreme terrain, ski racing and motorcycle racing, so what happened to Caleb really feels close to home.

I like the X games for many reasons. And I don’t know just how to make them safer, but I hope that ways can be found. Several other skiers and boarders were hurt also.

I know I often told my own kids to take it easy and be more careful, but inside I also admired their skill and guts. I can recall trying to do a back flip on a bike when I was about 12 years old, and doing jumps on a motorcycle.

Anyone doing what Caleb and the other X competitors do had a lot going for them.

Maybe it is up to the organizers and those more experienced to set more conservative boundaries to keep the young competitors safe.

Bill Greenwood

Aspen