Lindsey Vonn suffers major scare after crashing on World Cup giant slalom return

Competing in her first race since the World Championships, Vonn lost balance at the wrong time in Slovenia before sliding and smashing into the netting as her skis came off.

She didn't seem to be moving for a while before officials came to her aid. She was seen smiling and waving later, but the Associated Press said she was putting on a brave face claiming she “looked in pain and limped as she was escorted out" out of the venue.

Vonn missed the Sochi Olympics after undergoing major surgery on her right knees over the past two seasons.

“She hit her back on the B-net poles pretty hard, but should be all good,” said US Alpine director Patrick Riml.

Austrian Anna Fenninger claimed the win overcoming Germany's Viktoria Rebensburg by a combined .04 over two runs. Liechtenstein’s Tina Weirather finished third.

Fenninger is 84 points behind overall World Cup leader Tina Maze, who fell in the first run on home snow.

"My schedule is heavy and I didn't have time to rest since the world champs. I'm exhausted," said the Slovenian, the only skier taking part in all alpine disciplines in the World Cup.

Maze, who won the super-combined and downhill titles at Beaver Creek, cannot afford to miss out on Sunday's slalom at home to keep defending World Cup champion Fenninger at bay.

"There is less of a gap but I don't want to talk about it yet," Fenninger said. "Tina is far from finished."