Zuzulova out for the season

Veronika Velez Zuzulova (GEPA/Andreas Pranter)

After tearing her left ACL in a crash while training in Hintertux, Austria in October, Veronika Velez Zuzlova and her team thought she could be back for the World Cup in Courchevel on Dec. 17.

However, her efforts to return to race form without an ACL have not gone according to plan and the Slovakian has decided to undergo surgery as soon as possible, effectively ending her season.

“Rehab went well and after some very intense physical training she was able to get back on skis for some free skiing,” said Zuzlova’s coach and husband Roman Velez. “However once back in racing mode on the training hill, her knee didn’t hold.”

Zuzulova got her first World Cup victory last December in Semmering, Austria, and also won the parallel city event in Munich. She finished third in the World Cup slalom standings last season and was thought to be a medal contender in the slalom race at the Sochi Olympics.