Brown lost control of his motorbike in the early hours of Saturday morning, police said.

He suffered facial injuries, a broken collar bone, fractured ribs and a punctured lung after he collided with a power pole.

Brown's family said yesterday they were grateful for the support being offered to them and to Mitchell.

"Mitchell is now progressing well in Dunedin Hospital, having moved from the intensive care unit to the hospital's general ward," the family said in a statement.

"He is hoping to be able to join his New Zealand snowboarding teammates and compete overseas in the later part of the 2008 northern hemisphere season."

Brown, 19, a professional snowboarder, had a successful season this year with a major highlight, winning the men's half-pipe at the Burton New Zealand Open in August.

His sister, Kendall, is also a rising New Zealand snowboarder.