Skiing: Alcott to miss season after breaking leg

(Rex Features)

British skier Chemmy Alcott's season is over before it has begun after it was confirmed last night that she would miss the entire campaign following her leg-break in Canada. The 28-year-old was involved in a high-speed crash in the final training session before the opening women's World Cup downhill race in Alberta.

Organisers said Alcott sustained an open fracture of the tibia and fibula of her right leg after falling on a steep section of the Coaches Corner course at Lake Louise. She was airlifted to a hospital in Banff and had surgery late on Thursday. Her brother Rufus said last night that she was devastated at being ruled out for the season, but there was no suggestion of her retiring from the sport.

Alcott said on her Twitter page that it was "insane that something that brings you so much pleasure can also bring so much pain", before adding: "Post surgery and my xmas present is a leg full of metal. Hey if ur gonna do it do it well eh!"

Alcott is Britain's leading women's skier and finished 11th in the super-combined at the Vancouver Olympics.