INNSBRUCK, Austria —  Austrian ski star Marlies Schild will miss the upcoming World Cup season after breaking her left leg in a training crash Thursday.

Schild, who won the World Cup slalom title last year, crashed at the Rettenbachferner glacier in Tyrol province while preparing for the season-opening World Cup giant slalom race in Soelden, Austria.

"This is a huge blow for Marlies and the ski federation," federation Alpine director Hans Pum said. "She was in great form and was in a league of her own at the slalom."

Schild was transported by helicopter to a hospital in Innsbruck, where she underwent surgery.

"In a best-case situation, she will be able to go back to intensive training in six months' time," surgeon Gernot Sperner said.

The 27-year-old Schild holds 20 World Cup race victories. She also won the 2007 World Cup season slalom and combined titles.

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