Another U.S. Alpine Athlete Will Miss the Upcoming FIS Season Due to Injury

U.S. ski racer Ava Sunshine shared today that she too got injured during the race camp in New Zealand. The 21-year-old tore her right anterior cruciate knee ligament (‘ACL’) just days after teammate Nina O’Brien suffered a broken leg, benching her for the 23/24 race season as well.

• Related: U.S. Ski Racer Nina O’Brien Re-Fractures Leg During Training in New Zealand

Sunshine joined the U.S. Alpine Team last year. The ski racer hails from Edwards, Colorado, but calls Los Angeles, California, her home. She attended Vail Ski & Snowboard Academy before heading to Vermont’s famous Burke Mountain Academy. Burke Mountain Academy has produced several stand-out ski racers, including Mikaela Shiffrin and Nina O’Brien.

Sunshine had an impressive FIS Alpine World Cup debut last season, when she scored her first FIS World Cup points in her first ever World Cup start in Levi, Finland. The ACL rupture is a major setback for the young ski racer.