Time off for skier Innerhofer

Italian skier Christof Innerhofer has said he will take time off to recover from back injuries he sustained in a car crash. The 27-year-old super-G world champion had been preparing the new season at Les Deux Alpes resort in France, but had to cut that short due to continuing discomfort in his back. "It's not a great time for me just now but by nature I am an optimist," he said. "I need to get back to full fitness because next season we have the world championships at Schladming." Innerhofer said that he hoped to be back in action in time to take part in the Italian alpine skiing squad training trip to Argentina starting on August 24. The Italian, who won three medals at the last world championships in Garmisch-Partenkirchen in early 2011, struggled last season after sustaining head injuries in a training run fall in November of that year.