Ski cross star Serwa requires surgery

THE CANADIAN PRESS

CALGARY -- Canadian ski cross star Kelsey Serwa's season is over.

The 22-year-old from Kelowna, B.C., announced Wednesday she'll require season-ending knee surgery after rupturing the anterior cruciate ligament in her left knee during a World Cup race last week in France.

"I stepped on the pole of the girl in front of me before a jump," Serwa said in a statement. "I caught my leg and it got me all twisted and rotated -- I was flying through the air.

"I landed on my feet but I was still rotating. I'm done for the year."

Despite the injury, Serwa managed to finish fourth in the competition.

Serwa won the first two World Cup races of the season and was leading the overall standings at the time of her injury. She returned to Canada earlier this week and test results confirmed the extent of the injury and that she'll require surgery.

"I'll have to save it for another year," Serwa said. "I'm just going to rest and recover, try to keep my muscle (strength) and stay in a positive mindset.

"You hear of so many examples of people coming back before they are ready. I will see where I am at the start of next season."

Serwa captured the ski cross world championship last year and also captured a gold medal in the X Games.