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Serwa planning for next season

Kelowna ski cross racer focusing on rehab and her education after suffering a season-ending knee injury
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Kelowna’s Kesley Serwa is recovering from surgery after suffering a knee injury in training last month.

Ideally, Kelsey Serwa would be competing this season on the FIS World Cup ski cross circuit.

As it is, the 27-year-old Kelowna athlete is using her time as productively as possible while she recovers from knee surgery.

Serwa suffered a knee injury last month during training for a World Cup event in Montafon, Austria.

“The impact took a chunk off my lateral femoral condyle, which basically means there was a divot in the cartilage on a bone in my knee,” said Serwa. “I knew that something wasn’t right as soon as it happened.”

Upon her return to Canada, Serwa underwent surgery at the Banff Springs Hospital with Dr. Mark Heard.

Ideally, Kelsey Serwa would be competing this season on the FIS World Cup ski cross circuit.

As it is, the 27-year-old Kelowna athlete is using her time as productively as possible while she recovers from knee surgery.

Serwa suffered a knee injury last month during training for a World Cup event in Montafon, Austria.

“The impact took a chunk off my lateral femoral condyle, which basically means there was a divot in the cartilage on a bone in my knee,” said Serwa. “I knew that something wasn’t right as soon as it happened.”

Upon her return to Canada, Serwa underwent surgery at the Banff Springs Hospital with Dr. Mark Heard.

While working on her recovery and rehabilitation, Serwa will focus her attention on studying human kinetics at UBC Okanagan.

“I’m almost through two years of my degree and it’s a subject area I’m really passionate about and can easily relate to,” said Serwa. “When I’m not in class, I’ll be focusing on rehabilitation and being diligently dedicated to the gym so I can come back stronger than ever.”

It was the third serious knee injury for Serwa who was hurt in back-to-back seasons in 2012 and 2013.

In 2014, she came back from intensive rehab to win a silver medal at the 2014 Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia.

On the reality of injuries, Serwa believes she’s found the right perspective.

“Injuries are part of all sports but I’ve found that it is important for me to use this injury time efficiently, finding a balance in other aspects of my life,” said Serwa.

“It’s also important for me to have a positive attitude, no matter where I am in my life because it makes everything a lot easier to get through. My focus has always been to make the most out of every situation I’m put it.”

Serwa also won the X Games title in 2011 and 2016 and has 18 podium finishes on the World Cup circuit.

She is planning on making a full return to competition in the fall of 2017.