It’s just been one thing after another this season… On January 5th I hurt my right knee landing off a jump in Santa Caterina, Italy. Despite the pain, I finished the Downhill training run; even posting a couple of top-ten splits on the lower half of the course. Based on the symptoms I experienced throughout that afternoon, our team doctor diagnosed me with a posterior tibial plateau bone bruise. I was told that I wouldn’t be able to ski for at least 4-6 weeks and was sent home to Seattle two days later to get an MRI.

Once I was home, my knee improved much more rapidly than anyone expected. I knew within the first day of being home that I should still be in Europe skiing. I went to my MRI on Monday, the 10th with my bags packed and in my car. If my MRI results were clear of any bone bruising, I was planning on driving straight to the airport and buying an overnight flight to Europe in order to get to Cortina, Italy for the next Super G race on Wednesday, the 12th.

Although my MRI didn’t show any visible injury, the Ski Team would not allow me to fly back to Europe that night. I was told that I had to adhere to U.S. Ski Team medical protocol and pass functional tests before I would be cleared to ski or race again. I flew out the next day, arriving in Cortina on Wednesday, just hours after the Super G race concluded. I took and passed the physical tests that afternoon and ran the official Downhill training run the next day.

Despite missing the Super G on the 12th, I was still in contention for making the World Championship team. My selection rode heavily on my performance in the Super G race on the 14th, the final Super G before team would be named. I actually feel really good about how I skied that day. I skied well, and I was going for it. About midway down the course, however, I went too straight into a turn and got light off a roll. I lost so much elevation in the turn that I had to totally chuck my skis in order to make the next gate. I almost stopped. It wasn’t fast. I still can’t believe I even beat people considering my huge mistake. I ended up 33rd, just outside of the points. My splits showed I was headed for at least another top-15 result.

Needless to say, my disappointing finish eliminated any chances I had at making World Championships. Of course I took it pretty hard. I flip back and forth between being angry at the circumstances I’ve been forced to deal with, and feeling content with what I’ve done to fight back… I raced the first few races of the season with an injured leg, but I skied through the pain and did reasonably well. I was a victim of someone else’s judgment when I was sent home, thus missing an important Super G race, but I got back to Europe and laid everything on the line to try to achieve my goals. I took risks that didn’t work out in my favor, but I’m glad I had the guts to take them. I continue to think I’ve endured more than my share of bad luck so far this season, but all I can do now is look ahead.

Because there aren’t any other high-level races scheduled during World Championships, I will be racing Europa Cup, FIS, and Noram races until the regular World Cup circuit resumes in Are, Sweden on February 19th.