Calgary, Alta. (February 4, 2017) – After a couple weeks off from the Audi FIS World Cup ski cross circuit, the team was back in actionin Feldberg (GER) for a double-header race this weekend, with the first one being contested today. Weather has been challenging all week with cancelled training runs, cancelled qualifications and ultimately, a shortened race today. Despite tough conditions, limited training, high winds and poor visibility, Calgary’s Brady Leman found his fifth second-place finish of the 2016-17 season. Leman battled two heats today to land on the podium.

The men got two heats in under the wire today before race officials made the call to cancel the rest of the race due to inclement weather. The Canada Ski Cross team was poised for success with every single Canadian male athlete qualifying through for a second round of racing today. Leman had the second-fastest run of the day to land in second-place. 

Joining Leman on the podium was Jean Frederique Chapuis from France in first-place and Switzerland’s Alex Fiva in third-place. 

The Canadian men had six athletes inside the top 20 today including, Chris Del Bosco in fourth-place, Dave Duncan in 10th-place, Mathieu Leduc in 14th-place, Ian Deans in 15th and Ned Ireland finishing in 16th-place. Ireland landed a career-best finish today with his top 20 result.  

On the ladies’ side, they were only able to run one heat before cancelling the race. India Sherret had her first World Cup start this weekend and finished the day in 16th-place overall, while Brittany Phelan added another top-ten finish to her list of accomplishments with a sixth-place finish. Marielle Thompson, the current Audi FIS World Cup ski cross leader, crashed in the first round of heats and finished the day with a DNF.

Today’s women’s podium was topped by Germany’s Heidi Zacher. Switzerland’s Fanny Smith finished in second-place and Sweden’s Sandra Naesland took third-place.

The athletes will gear up for tomorrow’s second of two races this weekend, hopefully under better weather conditions. 

Canadian men’s results

2 – Brady Leman

4 – Chris Del Bosco

10 – Dave Duncan

14 – Mathieu Leduc

15 – Ian Deans

16– Ned Ireland

25 – Kevin Drury

32 - Trent McCarthy

Canadian ladies’ results

6 – Brittany Phelan

16 – India Sherret

DNF – Marielle Thompson

ABOUT ALPINE CANADA

Alpine Canada is the national governing body for alpine, para-alpine and ski cross racing in Canada. With the support of valued corporate partners along with the Government of Canada, Own the Podium and the Canadian Olympic Committee, Alpine Canada develops Olympic, Paralympic, world championship and World Cup medallists to stimulate visibility, inspiration and growth in the ski community.