Courtney Hoffos of Windermere, British Columbia won two World Cup women’s ski cross medals in Val Thorens, France this past weekend. Hoffos won two of five medals that Canadian ski cross athletes were able to record.
Hoffos won the silver medal in the women’s World Cup on Friday and the bronze medal on Saturday. The other Canadians to record a medal were Kevin Drury of Toronto, Ontario, who won a gold medal on Friday in the men’s World Cup, Kristofor Mahler of Canmore, Alberta, who won a gold medal on Saturday in the men’s World Cup and India Sherret of Cranbrook, British Columbia, who won a bronze medal in the Women’s World Cup on Friday.
In the women’s World Cup on Friday, Sandra Naeslund of Sweden won the gold medal. Hoffos won the third quarterfinal and was second in the second semifinal, only behind Naeslund. Sherret was second in the second quarterfinal, and was second in the second semifinal. Both times Sherret was behind Canadian Olympic gold medalist Marielle Thompson of North Vancouver, British Columbia, who was fourth overall. Thompson won gold in women’s ski cross at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi.
In the men’s World Cup on Friday, Drury beat out silver medalist Youri Duplessis Kergomard of France and Ryan Regez of Switzerland. Drury won all four races he contested in on Friday. He won the first elimination heat, first quarterfinal and first semifinal race.
In the men’s World Cup on Saturday, Mahler beat out silver medalist Bastien Midol of France and bronze medalist Joos Berry of Switzerland. Mahler finished second to Jonas Lenherr of Switzerland in the sixth elimination heat, won the third quarterfinal heat and then won the second semifinal heat.
In the women’s World Cup on Saturday, Hoffos won her quarterfinal and semifinal heat before losing to gold medalist Fanny Smith of Switzerland and silver medalist Sandra Naeslund of Sweden. For Hoffos, it was her first two career World Cup medals, and for Sherret it was her second World Cup women’s ski cross medal. She previously won bronze in Idre Fjall, Sweden on January 13.
Hoffos and Sherret are in third and fourth place respectively in the World Cup women’s ski cross standings. Hoffos has 140 points and Sherret has 110 points.
In the men’s World Cup ski cross standings, Drury leads with 145 points and Mahler is second with 140 points. It was Mahler’s first World Cup medal and Drury’s fifth World Cup medal. He previously won gold in Sunny Valley, Russia on March 4, 2018. The medals for Drury, Mahler, Hoffos and Sherret will give them confidence as they prepare for the 2022 Olympic Winter Games in Beijing.
