As reported to USHGA:

An intermediate pilot on a DHV-1 glider was making a top landing approach into a tight landing area from the front of the ridge. (A crabbing, crosswind approach is mostly used at this site.) He had insufficient altitude going into the final 180 degree turn required to touch down safely, and he impacted the ground just before coming out of the turn. He suffered a broken elbow, shin, and heel requiring extensive surgeries.

While miscalculating the exact arrival height can happen during any landing approach, the real mistake here was being locked into a flight pattern with no alternatives. Given the low altitude and the tight top landing area, the pilot did not have the option to go over the back, land downwind, or land side hill. He was forced to complete a pattern for which he had insufficient altitude.

Things don't always go as planned. Always have alternative flight plans available.

Afterthoughts:

After having some time to contemplate my accident, I have a list of errors committed here. I will share them in hopes that they will prevent others from making the same stupid mistakes.

• I quickly decided to dart straight back across launch downwind instead of taking the normal crosswind approach. This was the first mistake -- deciding quickly to execute a maneuver which had not been thought through.
• I had what I felt was enough altitude. I did not allow for misjudgements, unexpected sink, etc. We don't live in a perfect world, and when it comes to altitude, we should always have more than we think we need.
• As I was moving downwind quickly, I finally started to think a bit, but it was too late. I looked around and realized that I didn't have any reasonable options but to finish what I'd started. There was no clearing "over the back" for an emergency landing. There was no area to either side for a bail-out. Whether I wanted to or not, I had to execute my initial plan -- a 180 in a tight slot. Things don't always go as planned, and I should have allowed for an alternative plan before committing to a flight pattern.
• As I made my 180, I was swinging too widely. I'm not sure why. Here's where the memory starts to get sketchy. I guess I was swinging widely because I realized my altitude wasn't good so I was hoping to get by with a wider, flatter turn. As I was about at the end of my 180, I was just over the apple trees at the right side of launch. I pulled harder to the left, dropped quickly, and crashed. I know I've always heard people say not to do anything radical close to the ground. I just saw those trees, and pulled left to avoid them. I hadn't anticipated such a quick drop. I assume the drop was because my turn was excessive. I guess there's a possibility of something funky with the wind near the trees, but I really think that this was entirely pilot induced.
• When I was dropping to the ground, I may have been able to avoid a crash by flaring very quickly. I don't know if I flared or not. Things happened too quickly at that point.
• I didn't realize that I was hurt. I radio'd up that I'd gotten the wind knocked out of me and that I'd be up in a second. When I tried to get up, I couldn't. (right side fine, left side broken) I or someone suggested that I might get some help being placed in my van, and then someone could drive me to the hospital to get checked out. We tried to move me, but it hurt too much, and I requested an ambulance. With about 6 pilots present, everyone was helpful. When the paramedics arrived and cut away my flight suit, they realized that my fractures were open. This brings up my final point. A small first-aid course would be advisable for anyone regularly participating in sports where an accident is reasonably possible -- climbing, water skiing, paragliding, etc.

• Don't trust the injured person. OK, the injured person has the best idea of anyone present as to what is going on with his body, but he is not a medical expert just because he had an accident. I was damaged, and didn't realize it.
• Examine injured areas. When my leg and arm were hurt, I should have checked them out. An open fracture is nothing to mess around with. Fortunately, the skin wounds were minor enough that I wasn't losing much blood. But, what if I was draining blood and didn't realize it?
• Even fractures without being open can be dangerous. When a fractured bone is moved, it can snag blood vessels or other parts and create a rather serious condition.
• I saw a program on the Discovery Health channel on crash victims -- car accidents in this case. They showed what happens when the body suffers a significant thump. It's amazing; the body is so delicate. Personally, I think that any time someone has a significant drop to the ground in a paraglider, he or she should be professionally examined. A lot can happen inside the body. Organ walls can rupture. Blood vessels can burst.

Of course, we don't like to make a scene with an ambulance. I waited until I really felt I need one before I requested one.

Be safe. Have fun.