Vienna, Austria – Austrian slalom sensation Marlies Schild has called an early end to her World Cup ski season, opting instead to rehabilitate an injured knee.

The 31-year-old Schild explained, “Because of recurring problems with my right knee, I have to end my current season for good now. I will take some rest and have additional therapy to be fully healthy for next season.”

Schild, who with 33 World Cup slalom victories to her credit sits just one shy of Swiss great Vreni Schneider’s record, injured her knee in a crash while training in December. The 2011 World Champion in slalom was defeated by Shiffrin at the 2013 Championships held last month in Schladming, Austria.

With just two slalom races left on the World Cup calendar this season, one each in Ofterschwang and Lenzerheide, Switzerland, Shiffrin leads the World Cup slalom standings by 528 points to 495 over Tina Maze of Slovenia, who has already clinched the World Cup women’s Overall title.