The last time Elena Hight was reduced to a spectator at the Winter X Games, she was a 13-year-old trying to become the action sports event's youngest competitor ever.

A head injury prevented Hight from competing in 2003 and a concussion again was the culprit on Thursday as the South Lake Tahoe snowboarder had to take a seat on the sidelines for the women's superpipe in Aspen, Colo.

The 18-year-old cracked a helmet during a practice run crash on Wednesday and broke another helmet when she crashed prior to qualifying on Thursday. Both crashes occurred while Hight was trying to execute a frontside 900.

"I got another little concussion, so the medical people didn't clear me for the event, so I just watched," Hight said.

Hight was trying to medal for the second straight year. Last year, she enjoyed her best X Games finish - third place.

"There will be more X Games," she said. "It's tough to not be able to ride in it, but I am glad I made a smart decision."

Hight has a history of concussions - most of which happened when she was a 13-year-old trying to make a transition into big-time snowboarding.

"It's not a fun injury, to say the least," Hight said. "I have to be smart about it. It's a very serious thing and I have to take all of the symptoms seriously."

Hight said she won't compete in any of the remaining Chevrolet Grand Prix events this season. Next on her schedule is the Nissan Open in Japan at the end of February.