Lindsey Vonn to miss start of final season with knee injury

The news comes as a setback in her quest to become the most prolific World Cup winner in history, the American's 82 career victories leaving her four short of Swede Ingemar Stenmark's record haul.

"Yesterday I crashed training Super-G and hurt my knee," Vonn, 34, tweeted.

"The good news; I do NOT need surgery. The bad news; I won't be able to race in Lake Louise.

"LL (Lake Louise) has always been my favorite stop on the WC (World Cup) and I am devastated to not be coming this year."

Vonn was referring to the World Cup downhill and Super G races to be held at the Canadian resort on Saturday and Sunday.

The series shifts to Beaver Creek in Colorado the following weekend, before heading to Europe for the rest of the season.

Vonn did not indicate the exact nature of her injury, or how long she expected to be out of action.

The Colorado resident has made 392 career World Cup starts and more than half of her wins (43) have been in the downhill, followed by 28 in Super G, five in the combined, four in giant slalom and two in slalom.

Vonn ended her tweet on a positive note.

"I am down but I am NOT out! #nevergiveup."