Saturday, March 19, 2022Veysonnaz, SUI (March 19, 2022) – The world’s best Ski Cross athletes put it all on the line for the hotly contended final World Cup of the 2021-2022 season. Canada did not disappoint, earning two podium results and the highly prized Nations’ Cup.
THOMPSON EARNS 51ST CAREER PODIUM IN THE WOMEN’S RACE
Canada’s Marielle Thompson from Whistler, BC finished 2nd in the big final after winning her two first heats. The final featured some of the sport’s greatest legends including Thompson who was racing head on against Fanny Smith from Switzerland and Sandra Naeslund from Sweden who has been untouchable all season. Getting ahead right out of the start, Naeslund earned her 11th victory of the season out of and her 54th World Cup podium. For Thompson, today marked her 51st World Cup career podium.
“Today I finished 3rd overall for the season, which is pretty awesome, and I finished 2nd! I stayed patient in the big final, and managed to make a pass. I’m stoked on the sun and happy to finish the season in 3rd place” reflected Thompson after the race.
Hannah Schmidt from Ottawa, ON, who skied into 2nd place in her quarter and semi-final heats was poised to challenge the other women in the big final. Holding closely behind Naeslund for much of her final run, she put it all on the line and made a failed attempt to pass the circuit leader which resulted in Schmidt losing speed and falling back to 4th place in the final standings. Sitting in 4th place up to that point, Switzerland’s Smith took advantage of Schmidt’s mistake to move up to 3rd place overall.
Britt Phelan from Mont-Tremblant, QC won her first heat but then missed qualifying for the big final after coming in 3rd place in her semi-final heat. She won the small final, securing 5th place overall.
“I’m super stoked, I was skiing well all week and have been consistent all season. I was happy to win the small final, 5th to end the season is sweet. After almost two years out of racing, and finishing fourth overall, I can’t ask for anything more” said Phelan with a smile on her face.
Courtney Hoffos from Windermere, BC and Zoe Chore from Cranbrook, BC and Tiana Gairns from Prince George, BC finished in 9th place.
With this World Cup season now a wrap, Thompson concludes the winter as the world’s 3rd ranked Ski Cross racer in the women’s overall standings with 549 points, behind Naeslund (1 150 points) and Smith (641 points). Phelan follows closely in 4th place with 453 points. Schmidt is 7th (372 points), Hoffos is 10th (306 points), Gairns is 11th (276 points) and Zoe Chore is 18th (182 points), rounding out an impressive total of 6 Canadian women in the top in the top 18.
30th WORLD CUP PODIUM FOR LEMAN WITH 3RD PLACE IN THE MEN’S EVENT
On the men’s side, Brady Leman from Calgary, AB was the top Canadian with a 3rd place finish. Leman came second in all his heats and battled to the finish line to secure a place on the podium in the tightly packed race won by Sweden’s David Mobaerd and followed in 2nd by Italy’s Simone Deromedis. Today marked Leman’s 30th World Cup podium result in Ski Cross.
“It was a battle for me out there today, I had contact in every heat and had to fight to make it through a couple of rounds. I was confident on this track, but it was tight racing out here, so I am stoked to land on the podium. Today was my 30th career world cup podium, so I’m stoked on that too!” said Leman
Kris Mahler from Canmore, AB qualified for the small final after finishing second in his first heat, winning his quarter-final, and then getting pushed to 4th place in the semis. Skiing into 2nd place in the small final, he ended the day in 6th place overall, good for his 4th top 10 result of the winter.
Jared Schmidt from Ottawa, ON came in 9th place, Reece Howden from Cultus Lake, BC finished 13th and
Chris DelBosco from Montréal, QC, was 17th.
With the closing of this World Cup season, Leman is the top ranked Canadian in 8th place in the overall standings (296 points). Howden finishes 12th (267 points), Mahler is 13th (259 points), Kevin Drury from Toronto, ON sits in 17th place (222 points), Schmitd is 28th (117 points), Del Bosco is 35th (85 points), and Carson Cook is 41st (51 points). Ryan Regez from Switzerland takes the crystal globe with three victories this season and 559 points.
CANADA TAKES HOME SKI CROSS NATIONS’ CUP!
The 2021-2022 season is in the books and Canada was crowed the world’s top nation in the World Cup Ski Cross standings with 3656 points. The maple leaf led Switzerland who came in second with 2889 points and France who accumulated 2611 points.
Canada’s Marielle Thompson from Whistler, BC finished 2nd in the big final after winning her two first heats. The final featured some of the sport’s greatest legends including Thompson who was racing head on against Fanny Smith from Switzerland and Sandra Naeslund from Sweden who has been untouchable all season. Getting ahead right out of the start, Naeslund earned her 11th victory of the season out of and her 54th World Cup podium. For Thompson, today marked her 51st World Cup career podium.
“Today I finished 3rd overall for the season, which is pretty awesome, and I finished 2nd! I stayed patient in the big final, and managed to make a pass. I’m stoked on the sun and happy to finish the season in 3rd place” reflected Thompson after the race.
Hannah Schmidt from Ottawa, ON, who skied into 2nd place in her quarter and semi-final heats was poised to challenge the other women in the big final. Holding closely behind Naeslund for much of her final run, she put it all on the line and made a failed attempt to pass the circuit leader which resulted in Schmidt losing speed and falling back to 4th place in the final standings. Sitting in 4th place up to that point, Switzerland’s Smith took advantage of Schmidt’s mistake to move up to 3rd place overall.
Britt Phelan from Mont-Tremblant, QC won her first heat but then missed qualifying for the big final after coming in 3rd place in her semi-final heat. She won the small final, securing 5th place overall.
“I’m super stoked, I was skiing well all week and have been consistent all season. I was happy to win the small final, 5th to end the season is sweet. After almost two years out of racing, and finishing fourth overall, I can’t ask for anything more” said Phelan with a smile on her face.
Courtney Hoffos from Windermere, BC and Zoe Chore from Cranbrook, BC and Tiana Gairns from Prince George, BC finished in 9th place.
With this World Cup season now a wrap, Thompson concludes the winter as the world’s 3rd ranked Ski Cross racer in the women’s overall standings with 549 points, behind Naeslund (1 150 points) and Smith (641 points). Phelan follows closely in 4th place with 453 points. Schmidt is 7th (372 points), Hoffos is 10th (306 points), Gairns is 11th (276 points) and Zoe Chore is 18th (182 points), rounding out an impressive total of 6 Canadian women in the top in the top 18.
For more information or media inquiries please contact:
Kylie Robertson
krobertson@alpinecanada.org I 403-777-3204
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.
