Reece Howden of Chilliwack, British Columbia came away with two medals in two days at a World Cup ski cross event in Innichen, Italy. Howden won silver on Wednesday, and gold on Thursday. Two other Canadian Olympic gold medalists earned a bronze medal over the last two days. Brady Leman of Calgary, Alberta shared the podium with Howden on Wednesday and Marielle Thompson of North Vancouver, British Columbia won the bronze medal in the women’s World Cup ski cross event on Wednesday.
In the men’s ski cross event on Wednesday, Howden and Leman both won their first round meets, and two of the four quarterfinal heats. In the second semifinal, Howden finished first and Leman was second. In the big final, Mathias Graf of Austria won the gold medal.
In the women’s ski cross event on Wednesday, Thompson finished second behind Canadian Courtney Hoffos of Invermere, British Columbia in the second quarterfinal heat, and second behind eventual gold medalist Sandra Naeslund of Sweden in the first semifinal heat. Fanny Smith of Switzerland won the silver medal.
In the men’s ski cross event on Thursday, Howden won the fifth first round heat, the third quarterfinal, second semifinal and the big final. Ryo Sugai of Japan won the silver medal and Niklas Bachsleitner of Germany won the bronze medal.
In the men’s World Cup ski cross standings, Howden leads with 301 points. Graf is in second with 279 points. Leman is in 14th place with 126 points.
In the women’s World Cup ski cross standings, Thompson is in second place with 269 points. Naeslund leads with 500 points.
Thompson won the gold medal in women’s ski cross and Leman won the gold medal in men’s ski cross at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi. The medals for Thompson, Leman and Howden will give them confidence as they prepare for the 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Milan/Cortina d’Ampezzo.
