Nolan Kasper, the third highest scorer for the US men's ski team last season with the best slalom finish of the 2012 season, appears destine to miss this season after sustaining a knee injury the day before the second slalom of the current season.

Kasper crashed while training with the team in a heavy snowfall at Val d'Isere. He was scheduled to start tomorrow's slalom there. Instead he is flying home for further medical examination. The preliminary examination indicates an ACL tear is probable.

Kasper tallied the best slalom finish for a US male last season when he placed fourth at Beaver Creek in a race moved from Val d'Isere. He outscored all of the men on last season's squad with the exceptions of Ted Ligety and Bode Miller. He finished last season ranked 19th in slalom.

No stranger to rehab, Kasper has endured returning from off-season hip surgery in each of the last two seasons.

Gepa photo