Kelsey Serwa of Kelowna, the reigning women’s world and X Games ski cross champion, will miss the remainder of the World Cup season with a knee injury.

Serwa, 22, will require surgery to repair a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in her left knee. She suffered the injury in Alpe d’Huez, France, on Jan. 11 when she landed awkwardly during the final of a World Cup event.

“I stepped on the pole of the girl in front of me before a jump,” said Serwa, who returned to Canada this week. “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.”

Since switching to ski cross from alpine competition in 2008, Serwa has become one of the sport’s biggest stars. She had her sights set on winning her first Crystal Globe as overall World Cup ski cross champion after a strong start to the season.

“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.”

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