Calgary, AB. (February 28, 2025) — Canadian ski cross athletes continued adding podium results on Friday in Gudauri, GEO. On a newer track, India Sherret (Cranbrook, BC) continued her strong season with a third-place finish, the lone Canadian to get on the podium in both women’s and men’s races. 

It marks the 28-year-old’s sixth podium of the 2024-25 season and fourth since the calendar flipped to the new year. With two wins in Val Thorens, FRA and Reiteralm, AUT, it was the third time she’s finished third this season. She also finished second in Arosa, SUI, in December. 

“I think it was a good race out there today; I’m fairly happy with how the day went overall. Finals were definitely tight, and I didn’t have a great start, so I was kind of coming from behind but unfortunately made some mistakes at the bottom that cost me a lot of speed.” 

While Sherret was the lone Canadian to podium, three Canadian women qualified for the semifinals. Courtney Hoffos (Windermere, BC), who has one podium in 2024-25, won the small final to finish fifth, while Abby McEwen (Edmonton, AB) finished seventh, third in the small final. 

Switzerland’s Fanny Smith won Friday’s race, while Italy’s Jole Galli edged Sherret for second. Germany’s Daniella Maier came up in fourth place. 

“It was very close with Daniella Maier at the finish line, but she didn’t have quite enough to get past me. My skiing was pretty far from perfect, so I’m pretty pleased with the result, but a little bit less with the execution.”

The podium pushes Sherret up to the Crystal Globe, top-spot in the overall World Cup standings on 750 points, passing teammate Marielle Thompson (Whistler, BC), who did not race on Friday. 

Thompson remains second overall on 727 points, while Hoffos is the next best Canadian in seventh on 382.

Veteran Kevin Drury (Toronto, ON) was the only Canadian athlete to reach the men’s semifinals on Friday, eventually finishing eighth after the small final. Italy’s Simone Dermomedis, Japan’s Ryo Sugai and Sweden’s Erik Moaberg claimed the podium spots. 

In the men’s overall standings, Reece Howden (Cultus Lake, BC) leads Canadian skiers in third place with 558 points after being eliminated in the first round on Friday. In a tight race that didn’t favour top skiers, Howden and Deromedis were the only skiers ranking in the top six overall to claim points. 

Athletes take on a second race on the Gudauri course on Saturday, before a week off to make their way back across the Atlantic Ocean to race in Craigleith, ON, with Canadians hoping for a strong performance on home snow from March 12-15. 

“Today’s result doesn’t really mean much for tomorrow. I had a bit of a tough day in qualifying yesterday, so I think I’ll have a bit more work to do in the start from the outside gate, but I have lots that I can clean up and have a good plan going into the next race and am looking forward to it.”

Next CANskiteam World Cup races: (link to FIS Calendar)

Women’s Alpine World Cup downhill and super-G in Kvitfjell, NOR from Feb. 28 - March 1

Men’s Alpine World Cup giant slalom and slalom in Kranjska Gora, SLO from March 1-2

Para Alpine World Cup Finals super-G and downhill in Sella Nevea, ITA from March 12-16

Ski cross races in Gudauri, GEO  on March 1

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Mark Halliday
Alpine Canada
403 777 3204
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About Alpine Canada 

Alpine Canada is the governing body for alpine, para-alpine, and ski cross racing in Canada, as well as for Canadian ski coaches, providing education, certification, insurance, and compliance with the coaching code of conduct. With the support of valued corporate partners and donors, along with the Government of Canada, Own the Podium, the Canadian Olympic Committee, and the Coaching Association of Canada, Alpine Canada develops Olympic, Paralympic, World Championship, and World Cup athletes to stimulate visibility, inspiration, and growth in the ski community.