Olympic Gold medalist and former snowboard cross world champion Maelle Ricker is currently taking some time away from competition to recover from a pre-season injury.

Maelle was advised by National Team medical staff to focus on training and recovery in order to ensure a safe and successful return to competition.

As a result, the Squamish, BC resident did not compete at the 2015 World Championships in Kresichberg, Austria and also missed the X Games in Aspen, Colorado.

"I was really looking forward to competing at World Championships and at the X Games this season. However, I've decided to follow the advice of Canada Snowboard’s medical staff and continue to train and recover from a pre-season injury," she said.

"My plan is to return to competition and I want to be sure that I give myself the appropriate time for a full recovery."

Maelle has shown great resilience over the course of her 14-year National Team career, competing at the Sochi 2014 Olympics only weeks after surgery for a compound fracture in her left arm.

"Maelle Ricker is a fierce competitor, no doubt making the decision to sit out the World Championships and X Games this year was a difficult one for her. She has a great support team around her and their advice to her was to recover and train rather than compete. When Maelle is ready to return to competition, I am sure she will be just as fast as she has been in the past." said Steven Hills, Executive Director, Canada Snowboard.