Pitztal, Austria – Barely over three weeks from the World Cup ski racing season opener in Soelden, a nagging knee injury has reportedly pulled reigning World Cup overall champion Anna Fenninger of Austria from pre-season training.

News reports indicate that Fenninger, 26, is suffering from persistent knee issues. The Austrian Ski Team, which is training on the country’s Pitztal glacier, has yet to comment on the reports.

Fenninger has taken the overall World Cup women’s title for the past two seasons in a row. She’s facing a challenge this season from American Lindsey Vonn who, after suffering through her own knee issues for the past three seasons, has vowed to return this season to win her first overall Crystal Globe since 2012 despite fracturing her ankle in a training crash in New Zealand in August. Perennial challenger Tina Maze of Slovenia has already announced that she’s taking this season off from racing.