Hannah Schmidt of Ottawa, Ontario won women’s ski cross World Cup events on back-to-back days on Saturday and Sunday on Canadian snow this past weekend. Her victories came in Nakiska, Alberta. In all, Canadians won five World Cup medals in the four World Cup events. Canadian Olympic gold medalist Marielle Thompson of North Vancouver, British Columbia won a World Cup silver medal on Saturday, Reece Howden of Chilliwack, British Columbia won a gold medal on Saturday, and Canadian Olympic silver medalist Brittany Phelan of Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts, Quebec won a bronze medal on Sunday.
In the women’s World Cup ski cross event on Saturday, Fanny Smith of Switzerland won the bronze medal. Thompson and Schmidt won their quarterfinal heats, with Thompson finishing first and Schmidt finishing second in the second semifinal heat.
In the men’s World Cup ski cross event on Saturday, Terence Tchiknavorian of France won silver and Alex Fiva of Switzerland won bronze. Howden was second in his first round heat (behind Adam Kappacher of Austria), won the third quarterfinal heat and second semifinal heat.
In the women’s World Cup ski cross event on Sunday, Marielle Berger Sabbatel of France won silver. Phelan was second in the first quarterfinal heat, and won the first semifinal heat. Schmidt was second to Smith in the third quarterfinal heat and won the second semifinal heat.
In the women’s World Cup standings, Schmidt is in second with 469 points, Thompson is fourth with 367 points and Phelan is sixth with 309 points. The women’s World Cup ski cross leader is Berger Sabbatel with 480 points. In the men’s World Cup standings, Howden is in third with 281 points. Jared Schmidt of Ottawa, Ontario leads with 353 points.
Thompson won the gold medal in women’s ski cross at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi. Phelan won the silver medal in women’s ski cross at the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in Pyeongchang. The medals for Thompson, Phelan, Schmidt and Howden will give them confidence as they prepare for the 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Milan/Cortina d’Ampezzo.
