Canadian racer Nick Zoricic died from head injuries after crashing in a World Cup skicross event at Grindelwald on Saturday.

Zoricic died at 12.35 p.m. Swiss time (1135 GMT) as a result of "severe neurotrauma," the International Ski Federation (FIS) said in a statement.

The 29-year-old Zoricic went wide over the final jump and landed directly into safety nets lining the side of the course. Television pictures showed Zoricic tumbling through the nets as his skis and poles were thrown clear.

"Nick Zoricic fell heavily just before the finish in the round of eight, crashing directly into the safety netting and thereafter lying motionless," FIS said.

"The medical care from team doctors and Air Glacier followed immediately. Despite reanimation, Zoricic died at 12.35 as a result of severe neurotrauma.

"The organizing committee, FIS and Swiss Ski express their deepest condolences to the family and friends of Nick Zoricic and the Canadian Ski Team," the statement said.

The Canadian team said Zoricic was pronounced dead at a hospital in Interlaken, where he had been airflifted from the course by helicopter.

"Our thoughts are first and foremost with Nick's parents and his family," Alpine Canada President Max Gartner said in a statement. "Nick was a very talented young ski racer and a great athlete who was much loved by his teammates and fellow competitors."

Organizers abandoned Saturday's World Cup events for men and women, and the scheduled World Cup Finals races at the same venue on Sunday.

Grindelwald has been a venue on the skicross World Cup circuit since 2005. The Swiss village beneath the Eiger and Jungfrau mountain peaks was hosting a meeting for the fifth straight year.

"We are all very sad. It is unbelievable for us all," Christoph Egger, president of the race organizing committee, told The Associated Press by telephone. " We are an experienced organizer but, nevertheless, skicross is a sport where four racers fight to win a race. In these circumstances there is a risk to fall or risk of injury, and since today we know there is a risk for death."

Egger said it was a "surprise" to see Zoricic's line of flight off the jump, though "we put the fences there because you have to protect the racers for the finish area."

Race organizers will work with FIS and the Swiss ski federation to analyze the accident and course security.

Egger said that "normal process" also requires an accident investigation by legal officers from the canton (state) of Bern.

Zoricic, a member of the Craigleith Ski Club in Ontario, has raced on the World Cup circuit for more than three years and was competing in his 36th event Saturday. He placed eighth in the 2011 World Championships held at Deer Valley, Utah.

"Canadian Alpine racer Kelly VanderBeek wrote on Twitter that she grew up skiing with Zoricic and his father.

"I'm a mess, so I can only imagine how his family is. I'm so very sorry. Sending Love," she wrote.

"I can't believe this tragic news. Nick Zoricic has died? I'm sick to my stomach," Canadian former Alpine racer Brian Stemmle wrote on Twitter.

Zoricic is the second Canadian freestyle team member to die in a skiing accident this year.

In January, Winter X Games champion Sarah Burke died from her injuries nine days after crashing during halfpipe training in Park City, Utah. She was also 29.

United States racer Ted Ligety also posted a message of condolence for Zoricic on Twitter soon after winning an Alpine World Cup giant slalom race in Kranjska Gora, Slovenia.

"Skiing is a great sport that gives but it also takes, sad day to lose Nick Zoricic, you'll be missed bud," Ligety wrote.