A city woman has launched a $900,000 lawsuit against the Edmonton Ski Club and the City of Edmonton after alleging she was seriously injured while tobogganing.

According to a statement of claim filed in Court of Queen’s Bench on Dec. 19, Samantha Giese was hurt when she collided with a ski jump while sliding down Gallagher Park hill on a circular plastic disc on Dec. 22, 2010.

Giese alleges the ski jump consisted of a solid obstruction on the hill which was covered with snow and ice and says the collision left her spun around and facing the hill top.

Giese, who was 19 at the time and in her third year of a Bachelor of Physical Education and Recreation degree at the University of Alberta, claims she suffered two fractured vertebrae and a left wrist sprain.

As well, she alleges she suffered serious and permanent pain, loss of strength and loss of range of motion to her neck, back and hips, ongoing permanent numbness in her upper thighs and sleep disturbance.

Giese alleges her injuries resulted in her being delayed in returning to school, hampered her part-time work and prevented her from completing the training she had been taking toward becoming a certified personal trainer.

The statement of claim says the Edmonton Ski Club and the City of Edmonton were negligent for inviting the public to toboggan at the park in an area that was unsafe.

It also alleges they were negligent for building or allowing the ski jump to be built in an area where it created a hazard and for failing to post any warning signs about it.

Gallagher Park, the site of the Edmonton Folk Music Festival, is on the south side of the downtown river valley, between Cloverdale Hill Road and Connors Road.

Statements of defence have not yet been filed.

Statements of claim and statements of defence contain allegations which have not been proven in court.