Calgary, Alta. (Dec. 6, 2019) – Canada’s Ski Cross Team dominated their World Cup season opener in Val Thorens, France with a gold medal win by Kevin Drury. On the women’s side Courtney Hoffos earned her first World Cup podium, winning a silver medal. She was joined by India Sherret who tied her personal best result with a bronze. 

Drury, of Toronto ON, handily won his quarter-final and semi-final heats to advance to the final, where he came from behind to finish strong. It is Drury’s second career World Cup win.

“It was a great day. I had my plan, came through together. On the last turn I executed and came out in first, it feels pretty amazing” explained Drury. 

It was an exciting day on the women’s side­ as Hoffos and Sherret both stood on the podium winning silver and bronze. Hoffos, of Windermere, BC, who’s joining the world cup team for her first full season, was elated with her first World Cup podium. 

“It was super fun. I had no expectations coming into this race. Going one heat at a time. You get a lot of confidence skiing with all my friends.”

Sherret of Cranbrook, BC, who tied her personal best on the World Cup circuit was excited about opening the season with such a strong result. 

“I am super stoked with how the first race of the season went. I’m super pumped with how I’m skiing” Sherret said.

Fellow Canadian and 21-time World Cup winner Marielle Thompson of Whistler, BC, finished fourth after dominating in the quarter- and semi-finals. Zoe Chore of Cranbrook, BC and Brittany Phelan of Mont-Tremblant, QC, qualified for the small final and finished seventh and eighth. 

On the men’s side Kris Mahler of Canmore, AB and Carson Cook of Edmonton, AB qualified for the small final and finished sixth and eighth, their best World Cup finishes ever. Cook, who was competing in his first World Cup and was ecstatic with the result. 

“I think the biggest thing was staying calm and trusting in what I thought I could do and laying it down in the qualification kind of reassured the skill that I had. Going into the heats was the same mindset. Staying as calm as I could, trusting in my abilities and seeing how far I could go in the competition.” 

Chris Del Bosco (Montreal, QC) finished in 9th spot, Zack Belczyk (Banff, AB) – 10th, Brady Leman (Calgary, AB) – 12th. 

Ski Cross Head Coach, Stanley Hayer, was excited about the results today, “It was an amazing day for Canada. The hungriest people did the best.”

The team aims to keep the good times rolling tomorrow morning as they start their second race of the Cross Alps Tour from Val Thorens, France. 

Catch the action online at www.cbc.ca/sports at 5am EST. 

For more information or media inquiries please contact:
Whitney Hunter I Manager of Communications 
whunter@alpinecanada.orgI 403-471-6032 

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