Schmidt, Howden lead trio of Canadians to Ski Cross World Cup podium in Nakiska
Team Canada athletes had a dream-worthy day on the slopes in Nakiska, Alberta, winning three medals on Saturday at the FIS Ski Cross World Cup.
Hannah Schmidt of Ottawa and North Vancouver’s Marielle Thompson captured first and second place in the women’s race, while Reece Howden of Cultus Lake, British Columbia, took the top spot on the men’s side.
In a highly contested race, Swedish favourite and incoming World Cup leader Sandra Naeslund made it through the first round but had to pull out and not start the second round. While Canadians already had podium potential heading into the event, her absence opened the opportunity window even more.
Schmidt and Thompson battled with each other throughout the final heat, with the former overtaking the latter after Thompson had reached the first turn in the lead. Crossing the finish line, Schmidt secured the second win of her career and season, edging out Thompson by less than half a second.
For Thompson, the podium finish marked the 61st of her career and second of the season.
While the two Canadians took the top two spots, Switzerland’s Fanny Smith finished with the bronze medal, and France’s Marielle Berger-Sabbatel rounded out the big final. Moments earlier, Canada’s India Sherret and Brittany Phelan finished sixth and seventh, qualifying for the small final.
On the men’s side, Howden’s victory highlighted an otherwise tough day for Canadian skiers, as World Cup rankings leader Jared Schmidt could not advance out of his first-round heat. For Howden, however, the win marks the 10 of his career and second in Nakiska, the same course he picked up his first career win on in 2020.
France’s Terence Tchiknavorian claimed second place, while 37-year-old Swiss veteran Alex Fiva made his way onto the podium for the first time since 2022, finishing third.
Racing continues on Sunday in Nakiska, the lone Canadian stop of the 2023-24 FIS Ski Cross World Cup, with Howden, Schmidt, Kevin Drury, and Carson Cook qualified on the men’s side, joined by Thompson, Schmidt, Sherret, Phelan, Abby McEwan and Emeline Bennett qualified for the women’s bracket.