Calgary, Alta. (December 22, 2016) – Today marks the final race of the Audi FIS Ski Cross World Cup Cross Alps Tour, which included six races over 14 days. B.C.’s Marielle Thompson walked away as the overall winner of the tour after winning three races and capturing a second-place, fourth-place and fifth-place finish. Today’s race was the second of two races held on the Innichen (ITA) track. 

Ontario’s Dave Duncan launched himself into to the big finals for the first time this season. The former two-time champion on this Innichen track advanced to the semi-finals in a photo-finish and went on to make an incredible pass in the semi-finals to find a spot in the big finals. It was a tough battle all the way down in the big finals for the Canada Ski Cross veteran who narrowly missed out on a podium finish and walked away with season-best fourth-place result. 

Filip Flisar from Slovenia was today’s men’s champion. Austria’s Christoph Wahrstotter finished in second-place and France’s Arnaud Bovolenta rounded out the podium. 

On the women’s side, Thompson easily advanced through all the heats, finding herself in the big final once again. In the big final, the Olympic champion was battling for first position the majority of the way down track, until she made an uncharacteristic mistake, costing her a podium result. Despite today’s result, Thompson remains the overall ski cross leader on the circuit, in addition to claiming the Cross Alps Tour overall victory. 

Heidi Zacher from Germany owned the women’s podium again today, making it two-for-two at the Innichen venue. Fanny Smith from Switzerland finished in second-place and Marielle Berger Sabbatel from France finished in third-place. 

B.C.’s Georgia Simmerling, who captured third-place yesterday, advanced to the small final today where she easily took the win to add a fifth-place finish to her season’s accomplishments.  

Calgary’s Brady Leman was looking for redemption today after an early out in yesterday’s race. Holding second-place all the way down in the quarterfinal, a photo finish was needed to determine which three athletes would move through to the semi-finals. Leman failed to advance by millimetres of a fingertip and finished the day in ninth-place. 

After a career-best race yesterday, Brittany Phelan wasn’t fast enough to progress through the quarterfinals, crossing the line in third-place, just behind teammate Simmerling. Phelan finished in 12th-place today.

The World Cup ski cross circuit is now on a short break until its return on January 15th in Watles (ITA).  

Canadian Women’s Results

4 - Marielle Thompson

5 - Georgia Simmerling

12 – Brittany Phelan

Canadian Men’s Results

4 - Dave Duncan

9 - Brady Leman

16 - Kris Mahler

17 - Kevin Drury

22 - Ian Deans

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.