
The great ski cross season of 2023-24 is continuing for the Canadian brother/sister duo of Jared and Hannah Schmidt of Ottawa, Ontario. On Thursday, Jared Schmidt won the gold medal in a men’s ski cross race in Innichen, Italy, while Hannah Schmidt won the bronze medal in a women’s ski cross race in the same northern Italian village.
For Jared Schmidt, it was his third World Cup victory of 2023-24, and fifth medal overall. He previously won the gold medal in Val Thorens, France on December 8, and in Arosa, Switzerland on December 12. Jared Schmidt’s prior World Cup medals came in Bakuriani, Georgia on February 27, 2021 and in Arosa, Switzerland on December 14, 2021.
For Hannah Schmidt, it was her third World Cup medal of her career. She previously won silver in Val Thorens on December 9, 2022, and gold in Arosa on December 12.
In the World Cup men’s ski cross race in Innichen on Thursday, Nicolas Raffort of France won silver and Youri Duplessis Kergomard of France won bronze. Jared Schmidt won his first round heat, before finishing second to Tobias Baur of Switzerland in the fourth quarterfinal and second to Adam Kappacher of Austria in the second semifinal. In the men’s World Cup standings, Jared Schmidt is in first place with 312 points, while fellow Canadian Reece Howden of Chilliwack, British Columbia is second with 152 points.
In the World Cup women’s ski cross race in Innichen on Thursday, Hannah Schmidt placed behind gold medalist Sandra Naeslund of Sweden, and silver medalist Fanny Smith of Switzerland. Hannah Schmidt won her second quarterfinal heat, and finished second to Naeslund in the semifinals. In the World Cup women’s ski cross standings, Hannah Schmidt is in third place with 237 points. Naeslund leads with 295 points and Marielle Berger Sabbatel of France is in second with 270 points. The gold medal for Jared Schmidt and the bronze medal for Hannah Schmidt will give them confidence as they prepare for the 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Milan/Cortina d’Ampezzo.