Shocked skier crashes into elk

Conny Jacobsson said he was cross-country skiing Tuesday evening by the glow of a head-mounted flashlight on Billingen Hill, near Skovde, when he caught sight of an elk too close for him to change direction, Swedish news agency reported Thursday.

"Straight into the side, with my skis continuing under the elk. I ended up lying flat on my back on the ski tracks," Jacobsson said.

The skier, who was not injured, said the elk appeared surprised by the collision.

"I saw the elk's hooves which hopped delicately over me. He ran off with a glance back at me lying there," he said.

However, he said the elk stopped in the middle of his trail and would not budge, forcing Jacobsson to alter his path.

He said his future night skiing trips would likely be completed on trails with flood lights.

Copyright 2010 United Press International, Inc. (UPI).