Professional freeskier TJ Schiller was forced to pull out of Winter X Games 15 this week due to a serious knee injury. This unfortunate accident occurs almost one year after one of the most impressive showings at Winter X, where Schiller landed the first ever double corked 1620 in competition and earned a perfect score.

Schiller is suffering from a torn ACL and ruptured meniscus after he landed wrong in the park at Keystone Mountain Resort on Monday, December 13.

TJ was training prior to the first stop of the Winter Dew Tour that is going down at Breckenridge this weekend. Schiller's manager told ESPN that, "Immediately TJ knew that he had injured his knee" after the fall. After visiting numerous doctors in Colorado, it was confirmed that he had a 3rd degree ACL tear that will require two surgeries.

Not only should TJ be counted out for the X Games but he will also be off his skis for the remainder of the 2010-11 season.

Injuries such as this can really bum an athlete out - with the season just barely underway, it's hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel. However, TJ has received a tremendous amount of support from his fans, friends, and family and is focusing on the rehabilitation of his knee and coming back stronger than ever next year.

Photo courtesy of TJ Schiller/ESPN