Hi Everyone

Last week I had what must rate as the worst news any of us can hear from anyone we know and love!

Lex told me he had broken his neck!!!

We have only really known Lex for a very short time as he only joined the team last year, I was lucky to have a week with him in Cabo Verde for our photo shoot with Christian Nerdrum and Sigve Botnen in Feb 07. We couldn’t have been luckier with the conditions, huge swell, strong wind and blue skies and Lex was firing on and off the water. Lex is one of those people you meet and immediately know he is someone that will be close to your thoughts for all your life. His cool way, enthusiasm and positive vibe is a joy to be around and this is evident to see all the time with Lex………and get this, he is only 16.

Well the good news is Lex will be OK…no permanent damage to his spine so that’s worth a round of drinks for us all and 20 tequilas without lemon or salt

Lex…all of us here at Ozone wish you a speedy recovery…………..go easy on the wheelchair…no headstands OK!!!

Cheers Matt

PS – I will get you back for that never ending round of grog in Santa Maria

Read on for Lexs words>>

Hi riders,

My style is to rage on the water while smiling. A few weeks ago I was in Venezuela for the PKRA, but just a few days before the competition started I injured my ankle badly, so I couldn’t compete. But I was still smiling, I phoned Matt to tell him the story, and he said: all right bro, the show must go on, lets go to Texas for the Velocity Games! Finally back home, went to the physio, got a brace for my ankle, but perhaps the injure still was to heavy to go to Texas…..so let’s chill out and train!

So, On a nice, sunny day, I carefully went out on the water to check how my ankle was, and it was so stabile that did some tricks again. And suddenly, I didn’t passed the bar, I flew down, and somehow, I dived so hard into the water that I crashed on the bottom! And the water wasn’t shallow!! What a bad luck.. it felt immediately wrong, I heard something cracking, and it hurts a lot! I stood up, relaunched my kite, grabbed my board and went off the water.

After a long night in hospital I could go home. With, a broken neck. There are some little pieces in your neck, and my 6th and 7th are broken, and I was so lucky because I could have been dead or at least (what normally happens) paralyzed!! And I’m not, I can walk, watch TV, do something on the pc and stuff.. my life will be like this for 4 months. So I’m still smiling, although its boring and the wind is blowing minds here now.. I’ve been out of the hospital for 6 days now, and here it is 6 days of sun and wind. Insane right? Cant believe it haha.

Riders and readers take care, but bad luck is everywhere!