Calgary, Alta. (December 17, 2016) – Whistler’s Marielle Thompson proves once again she’s unstoppable on the World Cup ski cross circuit, picking up her third win of the season in today’s Montafon, Austria race. The 24-year-old remains the overall women’s leader on the ski cross circuit after capturing three wins and a fifth-place finish in just four races this season. 

Thompson dominated every one of her heats today, easily crossing the finish line in front. The 2014 Olympic Gold medallist is proving she is still the world’s best female ski cross racer.

Joining Thompson on the podium was France’s Marielle Berger Sabbatel in second-place and Heidi Zacher from Germany in third-place.  

The Audi FIS Ski Cross World Cup Cross Alps Tour continues with today’s race marking the third venue and fourth race for the World Cup athletes. 

On the men’s side, Ontario’s Kevin Drury was the day’s top Canadian finishing in fourth-place, matching his career best result from last season’s PyeongChang Olympic test event. 

Canada had representation in both the men’s and women’s small final. Dave Duncan and Kris Mahler battled it out in the men’s small final with Duncan crossing the line in front of his teammate in sixth-place. Duncan, a veteran World Cup winner, is making his charge back on tour after spending last season on the sidelines recovering from injury. 

Team rookie Kris Mahler, had an impressive day battling tough competition to make it all the way to the small final. Mahler had a career-best finish today, ending up in the seventh-spot. Mahler’s previous best finish was a 12th-place last season. The future is bright for this 21-year-old on the World Cup ski cross circuit.  

In the women’s small final, Vancouver’s Georgia Simmerling put down her best result of the season in today’s race, finishing in eighth-place. 

Veterans Brady Leman from Calgary and Chris Del Bosco from Quebec, uncharacteristically missed making it past the first round heats today. Brittany Phelan crashed into the b-net in the women’s quarter finals, failing it to make it past that heat. 

On the men’s podium, France went 1-2 with Jean Frederic Chapuis in first with countryman Jonas Devouassoux in second and Switzerland’s Marc Bischofberger in third-place. 

The fourth and final stop on the Audi FIS Ski Cross World Cup Cross Alps Tour will be in Innichen, Italy for back-to-back races next week. 

Canadian ladies’ results

1 – Marielle Thompson

8 – Georgia Simmerling

14 – Brittany Phelan 

Canadian men’s results

4 – Kevin Drury

6 – Dave Duncan

7 – Kris Mahler

14 – Ian Deans

17 – Brady Leman

25 – Chris Del Bosco

Full results here. 

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.

For further information or press inquiries, please contact Ashley Shantz at ashantz@alpinecanada.org or call (587) 226-3007.