U.S. snowboarder Taylor Gold is sitting out the Olympic season due to recurring knee and shoulder injuries, according to his social media.
Gold, who was 14th at the Sochi Winter Games, was on the entry list for the first Olympic qualifier at Copper Mountain, Colo., this week but did not start.
“I’ve been advised that even with the rehab I’m at risk of further damaging both [my knee and shoulder],” was posted on Gold’s Instagram. “I do not feel like I can ride to the best of my ability and do not want to take the chance of permanently damaging my body, so I have made the decision to take this season off and focus on resolving these injuries so I can come back 100% in the 18/19 season.