French skier Cyprien Sarrazin said Monday he was "more or less confident" of racing at the Copper Mountain meeting later this month, for the first time since a horror crash almost two years ago.
The 32-year-old, a two-time winner of the historic Kitzbuehel downhill race, added he did not want to be at the starting line in the US "just for the sake of it".
The Copper Mountain resort in Colorado is hosting a super-G on November 28 and a giant slalom a day later.
Sarrazin suffered serious head injuries after crashing into safety netting during a practice run ahead of a race at Bormio, Italy, on December 27, 2024.
Fortunately he did not suffer any brain or neurological damage and after undergoing a long rehabilitation process he took "the big step" of going on a French team training camp in Argentina in September.
"The plan is to go to the United States and be at Copper Mountain and then Beaver Creek (December 3-6)," he said at a press conference.
"All systems go.
"However, I do not want to be at the starting gate just for the sake of it.
"I will leave it to the eve of racing to decide but today I am more or less confident that I can be at the start in Copper Mountain."
Sarrazin, who had a breakthrough season in the 2023/24 campaign winning three downhills, twice at Kitzbuehel as well as at Bormio and a Super-G at Wengen, admitted he had had doubts during his time off the piste.
"There are always doubts, fears," he said.
"Even after very difficult moments, if one believes in oneself and make progress little by little with attainable goals and a good plan, one can be surprised by the speed with which things go well and how far one can go."
Sarrazin said the training camp -- 12 days of skiing during the 18-day stay -- had been encouraging.
"The physical sensations were very good," he said.
"I first trained with a ski jacket and trousers so as to go slower, then I built on that bit by bit until I was able to put on the full ski suit, and what is more with performances that were respectable.
"I am lacking a few kilometres to be able to be effective from the start to the finish but I will have them under my belt by the time Copper Mountain swings around."
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