Courtney Hoffos of Invermere, British Columbia has won the silver medal in women’s ski cross at the World Freestyle Skiing and Snowboarding Championships in Engadin, Switzerland. This was the second of four medals Canada won on Friday at the championships.
Hoffos had the third fastest qualification time of 1:03.19. She placed only behind Fanny Smith of Switzerland, who had a time of 1:02.67, and Canadian India Sherret of Cranbrook, British Columbia, who had a time of 1:02.89.
In the quarterfinals, Hoffos won the third heat. Then in the semifinals, Hoffos won the second semifinal heat. In the big final, Smith won the gold medal, and Daniela Maier of Germany won the bronze medal. The other skier to reach the big final was Marielle Berger Sabbatel of France.
Hoffos is now the fifth Canadian skier to win gold in women’s ski cross at the World Freestyle Skiing and Snowboarding Championships. Canadian Olympic gold medalist Marielle Thompson of North Vancouver, British Columbia won gold in 2019 in Deer Valley, Utah, and silver in 2013 in Voss, Norway. Canadian Olympic gold medalist Ashleigh McIvor of Vancouver, British Columbia won gold in Inawashiro, Japan in 2009. Canadian Olympic gold medalist Kelsey Serwa of Kelowna, British Columbia won gold, and Julia Murray of Vancouver won silver in 2011 in Deer Valley. McIvor won gold at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver, Thompson won gold at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, and Serwa won gold at the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in Pyeongchang. The silver medal will give Hoffos confidence as she prepares for the 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Milan/Cortina d’Ampezzo.
