Lindsey Vonn, Elena Fanchini to miss speed season openers

Lindsey Vonn of the U.S. and Elena Fanchini of Italy are both facing setbacks to the start of their 2018/19 seasons after crashing during super-G training at Copper Mountain, Colorado (USA) this week. Both will miss the Audi FIS Ski World Cup speed season opening scheduled in Lake Louise (CAN) next week.

Vonn sustained a knee injury that she reports will not require surgery. However, a timeline for her return to competition and the specifics of the injury are not currently available.

Vonn announced that she plans to retire at the conclusion of the current season whether or not she is able to break the all-time World Cup win record of 86 held by Ingemar Stenmark. With 82 victories, she is four wins shy of tying Stenmark and five shy of surpassing him. Lake Louise, often referred to as "Lake Lindsey", has been the site of 22 of her victories.

Fanchini was working toward her return to the World Cup tour following successful treatment for a tumor that was discovered last winter. She was forced to cut her season short last year but returned to ski training at the beginning of November. As a result of her crash in Copper, she sustained several injuries including a fractured left proximal fibula, fractured finger, and bruised left knee. She will return to Italy for further evaluation.

The ladies' Audi FIS Ski World Cup at Lake Louise (CAN) begins with downhill racing on 30th November and 1st December followed by super-G on 2nd December.