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Get in TouchCalgary, AB. (December 11, 2025) — The Canadian national ski team returned to the slopes to start the FIS Ski Cross World Cup season on Thursday, pulling out of the start gates for the first time in the Olympic year of 2025-26 in Val Thorens, France.
In the first of two races in as many days at the Jean Frédéric Chapuis Ski Cross Stadium, Canada’s Courtney Hoffos finished on the podium, crossing the women’s big final finish line in second, marking her nation’s first podium finish of the season.
Hoffos, 28, finished short of Swedish star Sandra Näslund to secure the 12th podium of her World Cup career and fourth consecutive in World Cup racing, dating back to three second-place finishes in March 2025 in Idre Fjäll, SWE and Craigleith, Ontario.
She made a slick move in the second half of the course to overtake Germany’s Daniela Maïer in the big final. Maïer eventually fell back further, leaving France’s Mylene Ballet Baz to round out the podium on home snow.
Näslund, who returned from injury after missing the 2024-25 season, captured her record 40th World Cup win and 69th podium.
“Felt great to stand on the box today,” said a smiling Hoffos said after the race. “This is one of my favourite tracks and I haven’t skied here for two full years and it felt great to be back here. It was a really tough field of girls with everyone back and healthy. There was some spicy racing, and I had some luck on my side, but that’s our sport. I’m happy with my skiing and excited to race again tomorrow.”
Fellow Canadian Britt Phelan finished in sixth after the small final, having advanced to the semifinal across the bracket from Hoffos. Meanwhile, Hannah Schmidt and India Sherret were eliminated in the quarterfinals.
On the men’s side, only 37-year-old Kevin Drury advanced to the quarterfinal, while three-time Crystal Globe winner Reece Howden fell out in the first round after a minor fall. Jared Schmidt of Ottawa also did not advance from the first round.
Overall, the course featured more significant elements than in past seasons, offering thrilling racing in a way that suits several of Canada’s top skiers.
The athletes will return to World Cup action with another race in Val Thorens on Friday, before looking ahead to the second stop on the World Cup circuit in Arosa, SUI, featuring the famed night event under the lights on Dec. 16.
Next races: (link (https://www.fis-ski.com/DB/general/calendar-results.html?noselection=true) to FIS Calendar)
The Para alpine continue racing tomorrow in Steinach am Brenner (AUT) with SG
Ski cross race December 12 in Val Thorens (FRA)
Women race DHx2 and SG in St. Moritz December 12-14
Men are in Val D’Isère, (FRA), for GS and SL on December 13-14
Follow Canada’s Ski Team this season on Alpine Canada’s website (https://alpinecanada.org/), across our social media accounts and subscribe to our newsletter here (https://share.hsforms.com/1ouuRWgUGRuygEUYpPGbHCAnk3lv).
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