August 29, 2014 – National Nordic Foundation Director Dave Knoop a.k.a. “Nordic Dave” of Park City, Utah suffered stroke earlier this month and is recovering at home with minimal lasting effects. The super-fit nordic skier and all-round athlete is in his late 50s, yet the stroke hit him unexpectedly, considering his physical strength and health.

In fact, he wrote that when it happened he had: “Just finished some awesome intervals on a Mtn trail but dropped like a sack of potatoes.” Listen to our audio interview with Knoop and his stroke, the Al Merrill award he won, and NNF’s plans for this coming season…read more about NNF here.

Apparently, the condition was triggered by “…an old neck injury and the artery has gotten stretched and kinked like a garden hose. I think it let loose a blood clot that put me down for the count.”

At the time of the attack, Knoop suffered 50% paralysis, but a drug that was administered just in time allowed him to regain mobility but with some loss of vision in one eye. Knoop, Insurance Broker/Consultant by day, admitted in an earlier interview that he’s “…a proud ‘master blaster,'” who likes to compete in various races around the country as well as Europe.

SkiTrax wishes Dave all the best and a speedy full recovery.