Canadian skier Val Grenier is back at the Alpine World Championships after a serious crash last year. She's determined to make the most of her sixth appearance at the event, inspiring others with her resilience. Canada's team is brimming with confidence, riding the momentum of recent victories and aiming to build on their successful performance at the previous championships.
Val Grenier 's sixth appearance at the world championships almost never happened. Almost exactly a year ago she suffered a horrific crash during a World Cup super-G race that required shoulder surgery to repair a fractured arm and reconstructive right knee surgery. Canada 's Val Grenier is shown in action during women's downhill training at the world ski championships on Tuesday in Saalbach, Austria.
(Alain Grosclaude/Agence Zoom/Getty Images)With sunshine blasting down on the Zwölferkogel slopes southwest of Salzburg in the skiing Mecca of Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Austria, Canada's Val Grenier zipped down the downhill course on Tuesday morning. It marked the first downhill training runs ahead of the 2025 alpine ski world championships, valuable time on the mountain for the athletes ahead of the first races at the international event. CBC Sports and CBC Gem will live stream competition throughout the event, which begins on Tuesday and runs through the final day of action on Sunday, Feb. 16. More than 600 skiers from upwards of 70 nations have descended upon the Austrian Alps ski community for the biannual event that features the fastest, bravest, and most skilled skiers on the planet. At 28 years old, Grenier brings a wealth of experience to the event for Canada. This is now her sixth appearance at the world championships, having made her debut at just 18 years old. 'It's a new track to me so it's a little special. I was a little nervous. I was trying to remember all the lines. There's a lot of terrain so it's hard to remember all of it,' Grenier told CBC Sports. 'Overall I'm happy with how it went. Understand the line and where to go. How the jumps feel. I was a little bit safe in some sections but for the first training run it didn't really matter.' This sixth appearance almost never happened for Grenier. Almost exactly a year ago she suffered a horrific crash during a World Cup super-G race in Cortina D'Ampezzo, Italy. Grenier required shoulder surgery to repair a fractured humerus and also underwent reconstructive right knee surgery.Canadian skier Valérie Grenier aims for return to top form after injury in super-G crash 'It was really difficult at first when it happened. It was difficult to accept so to see I was going to be out for a while. I was devastated. I didn't want to do rehab again. I struggled at first,' she said. 'I was patient though. I really try my best to inspire people through all of it. I've seen the comments supporting me. I'm trying my best to inspire them.'Val Grenier hopes her return to the slopes can inspire others through her resilience and hard work. Grenier, from St-Isidor, Ont., says she's trying to be reflective about this experience, about being back to another world championships and being healthy again. It was a long road back to this point laced with months of rehabilitation but she never stopped believing she could be back on the slopes. 'You have to go for it. You have to push yourself. The first part is the hardest because you're doing nothing. It's being ready to work hard and take the time that you need. And remember the goal at the end,' Grenier said. Canada's Val Grenier is shown after downhill training at the alpine world ski championships in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Austria, on Tuesday. (Devin Heroux/CBC Sports) This isn't the first time Grenier has returned from injury either. In February 2019, she broke her ankle and leg in multiple places during a training run at the world championships in Are, Sweden.'I love skiing. It's the love of my life. I'm always happy to be racing. I'm a racehorse and I'm super happy to be here. If I take a step back it's crazy. I've been here for a while and I'm proud of myself,' she said. And her triumphant return is fuelling a Canadian team full of confidence and momentum. Grenier is one of 12 Canadian skiers in Austria preparing for worlds.Our CBC Sports team previews the Alpine World SKI Championships in Saalbac, Austria. Less than two weeks ago, Toronto's Jack Crawford captured skiing's most prestigious prize, winning the famous Kitzbuhel downhill event. It marked the first time a Canadian had conquered Kitzbuhel since Todd Brooker did it in 1983. Cam Alexander, from North Vancouver, B.C., finished third in the same race.Canada is coming off of its most successful alpine world championships ever, having won four medals two years ago in Courchevel and Méribel. Crawford captured gold in the super-G. Laurence St-Germain won gold in slalom. Alexander won a downhill bronze and Canada also won a team bronze in the parallel event
Alpine Skiing World Championships Val Grenier Canada Jack Crawford Kitzbuhel Comeback Injury Resilience
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Federica Brignone wins, Lindsey Vonn impresses and Malorie Blanc shocks in epic World Cup downhillValerie Grenier, the lone Canadian in the race, finishes 43rd
Read more »
Canadian Sports News Roundup: Taylor's Triumph, Canadian Curling Trials, and MoreThis roundup covers a range of Canadian sports news, including Nick Taylor's victory at the Sony Open, updates on the Canadian mixed doubles curling trials, and more.
Read more »
Aritzia, Canadian Tire, Lululemon among Canadian retailers shifting production outside ChinaShoppers come and go from a Canadian Tire store in Ottawa on Aug. 11, 2023.
Read more »
Trump Hints at February Tariffs on Canadian Goods, While Canadian Politicians Back Away from Carbon PricingThis article covers several news stories from The Canadian Press. It starts with US President Donald Trump's suggestion of 25% tariffs on Canadian imports by February 1st, despite earlier indications of a study on trade practices. The article also discusses the three frontrunners in the Liberal leadership race shifting away from the Liberal government's carbon pricing policy. Other news covered includes Statistics Canada's upcoming release of December's inflation figures, thawing permafrost in the Arctic tundra, and a focus on the benefits of small care homes for long-term residents.
Read more »
Trump to Implement Tariffs on Canadian Goods, Prompting Canadian ResponseU.S. President Donald Trump's inauguration speech signaled his intention to impose tariffs on Canadian goods, reversing earlier reports that suggested a delay. Canadian officials have expressed preparedness for this move, outlining plans to defend Canadian interests and jobs.
Read more »
Canadian veteran known as ‘Canadian Dave’ released by Taliban months after arrestDavid Lavery, a former Canadian Armed Forces soldier, has been safely flown out of Taliban hands, as a Qatari official confirmed he landed in Doha.
Read more »