Street’s Season Hits Dead End After Skier Wrecks Knee in Fall

Picabo Street, two-time World Cup downhill champion, suffered torn ligaments and damaged cartilage in her left knee Wednesday and will require season-ending surgery.

Street, injured during a downhill training crash, suffered a complete tear of the anterior cruciate ligament, partial tears of several other ligaments and mild cartilage damage, according to Dr. Richard Steadman.

Steadman said surgery will be postponed “until at least next week because the swelling is so bad. I don’t expect her to be back on snow for at least six months.”

Street, who injured the same knee in February 1989, also bruised her left elbow after slamming into a safety catch fence.

Street, 25, of Sun Valley, Idaho, was nearing the end of her run when she went out of control on Pepi’s Face, the last obstacle before the run to the finish of Vail’s International downhill track.

Street sat back as she came over the top of the face, air rushed under her skis and she tumbled about 200 yards to the bottom of the face, crashing into the safety fence.

Street, gold medalist in downhill at the 1996 World Championships, has won nine downhill races the last two seasons.

The injury was a blow to the World Cup hopes of the U.S. Ski Team, which has started slowly this season.