Albrecht hospitalised by Lake Louise crash

The 29-year-old lost control and hit the nets as he prepared for this weekend's World Cup race at the Canadian venue.

He was airlifted from the slopes and taken to hospital in Calgary where he is being treated for what the Swiss Ski Federation described as a "complex injury".

It is not thought he sustained a blow to the head.

Albrecht has a history of horror crashes: in January 2009 he crashed heavily on a training run in Kitzbuehel and sustained brain and lung trauma. He was placed in an induced coma for 16 days.

Since then the 2007 world champion in super-combined and four-times winner on the World Cup circuit has rarely raced in speed events and he has largely been unable to rediscover his best form.