Without having finished a World Cup race since November of 2009, Rainer Schoefelder will be dropped from the Austrian Ski Team, according to Austrian newspaper Der Standard.

A winner of five World Cup wins (the most recent in 2004), a silver medal at the 2005 World Championships and two Olympic bronze medals from 2006, Schoenfelder, 33, will get the opportunity to ski his way back onto the Austrian slalom squad, but he’ll have to do it on his own. Schoenfelder has been fighting his way back from injury for three seasons. Team leader Matthias Berthold told Der Standard Schoenfelder will have a chance at regaining team status during timed trials in the Fall.

Schoenfelder is reported to have said he will not give up and will organize his own training with coach Christian Huber. “I have three seasons of blood, sweat, tears and money invested in my comback. I have the first phase in three years, where I can train without health restrictions.” He said the distance from the national squad “changes nothing.”

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About the Author: Hank McKee

In memoriam: The veteran of the staff, McKee started with Ski Racing in 1980. Over the seasons, he covered virtually every aspect of the sport, from the pro tours to junior racing, freestyle and World Cup alpine competition. He wrote the first national stories for many U.S. team stars, and was still around to report on their retirements. “Longevity has its rewards,” he said, “but it’s a slow process.”