Calgary, Alta. (March 5, 2017) – It was a huge day for Canada on home snow in Blue Mountain, Ontario with Canada closing out the day with double first-place finishes, a second-place, two Crystal Globes and a Rookie of the Year. Marielle Thompson, Brady Leman and the entire Canada Ski Cross team, proved once again their unquestionable dominance on the Audi FIS Ski Cross World Cup circuit. 

Whistler’s Thompson, won today’s Audi FIS World Cup Finals, supported by Mackenzie Investments race, along with the overall title to take home a career-third Crystal Globe. This is Thompson’s seventh win of the season and she showed unwavering skill on the track today, clearing through the finish line in first-place in every heat.  

“To win the Crystal Globe here on home soil in Canada is amazing,” said Thompson. “It’s just a great finish to the World Cup season. I couldn’t have asked for a better race. And to have Canada on top for the second year in a row and win the Nations Cup is just awesome. It’s great for our team and it’s great for our program.”

There was huge success on the men’s side today too with Calgary’s Brady Leman claiming his second win of the season. Leman was joined by teammate and ski cross veteran, Chris Del Bosco, on the podium. Del Bosco finished in second-place, claiming his first podium of the season. 

“It’s amazing to be on top here at Blue Mountain,” said Leman. “It was an awesome atmosphere here with a great crowd and great to race in front of friends and family. It’s been a really great season and I’m really proud of it. Winning the Nations Cup really motivates us a group and it’s great bonus to win it again this year.”

Narrowly missing the podium but claiming a career-best finish was Tremblant’s Britt Phelan who earned herself a spot in her first big final. Jostling for position the whole way down, including being in contention for one of today’s medals, she crossed the finish line in fourth-place. Despite missing a podium today, Phelan was named the 2017 Rookie of the Year!

“I’m super happy with today’s result,” said Phelan. “It was hard to stay calm in the start for the big final knowing what was on the line. It was awesome to do it in front of a home crowd and in the last World Cup of the year!”

The Audi FIS World Cup Finals were contested today at Blue Mountain Resort in front hundreds of fans supporting the Canada Ski Cross team and the world’s best ski cross athletes. This marks the final World Cup race of the season. Select members of the team head over to Sierra Nevada (SPA) for the World Championships being held next week. 

Canadian Ladies

1 – Marielle Thompson

4 – Britt Phelan

11 - Georgia Simmerling

Canadian Men

1 – Brady Leman

2 – Chris Del Bosco

8 – Dave Duncan

13 – Kevin Drury

16 – Zach Belczyk

21 – Ian deans

30 – Ned Ireland

32 – Mathieu Leduc

World Cup Finals Ladies’ Podium

1 – Marielle Thompson

2 – Sandra Naesland

3 – Fanny Smith

World Cup Finals Men’s Podium

1 – Brady Leman

2 – Chris Del Bosco

3 – Filip Flisar

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.