Industry News
Canadian Alpine skier Valerie Grenier was just one of many female ski racers who crashed during the Alpine World Cup events in Cortina d’Ampezzo in Italy last weekend. In total 35 female athletes did not finish the ski races over the course of the three days of events, consisting of two Downhill races and one Super-G race. While some had benign crashes, other skiers suffered season-ending injuries, including Switzerland’s Joana Hählen and Corinne Suter, who both ruptured cruciate ligaments. The world’s most successful skier Mikaela Shiffrin also crashed at Cortina and it has not been confirmed yet when the U.S. ski racer will commence at the World Cup.
After her triumph on the first Downhill race on Friday, January 26, in which the Canadian won her first-ever career Downhill podium, Grenier crashed during the Super-G race on Sunday, January 28.
Alpine Canada initially announced that Grenier had a shoulder injury but on Tuesday, January 30 the Canadian skier confirmed on her social media accounts that she had several other injuries: a fractured humerus, a torn ACL, and a partial MCL tear. Her shoulder surgery was scheduled for yesterday, Wednesday, at a private clinic in Austria after which the Canadian skier is expected to return home. Back in Canada, it is expected her ACL and MCL will be repaired.
It is Grenier’s second serious injury during her racing career. In February 2019, the 27-year-old Canadian crashed during the Downhill training in Åre, Sweden, and broke her tibia, fibula, and talus. At that time, it took about a year and a half before she was able to compete again.
We wish Valerie Grenier a speedy recovery and the patience and resilience for the rehab and look forward to her return to the FIS World Cup circuit next season.
