Usobiaga suffers from neck/back injury

One year ago, Patxi Usobiaga was involved in a car crash. Regardless, he trained the next day. During the succeeding weeks he began to experience more and more pain in his neck, and some days he could barely leave the bed, in severe pain and feeling generally sick. Despite his injuries, Patxi trained hard and pushed himself in comps, including winning the WC in Korea on 28/8. But in the end he was actually severely injured and was forced to end his season in Kranj being ranked #26. Patxi said, "I thought I was unbreakable but I am only human. The doctors have been discussing surgery. When I climb hard it gets worse so lately I have been doing multi-pitches and easier routes. I have to climb and being here watching the finals in Arco was very hard but today I feel better and I can just hope for the future." Patxi Usobiaga has been competing successfully for 16 years, and he won the WC in 2006 and 2007. In 2009 he won the World Championship. He was also the first to onsight 8c+.