New course awaits at Nakiska as Ski Cross World Cup returns

Canada's Marielle Thompson says the new course awaiting athletes will be "a surprise for everyone" as the FIS Ski Cross World Cup gears up to resume in Nakiska next week.

With races at Val Thorens, Arosa and Innichen completed in December, the skiers now head to Canada for the first of the World Cup races in 2024.

While Nakiska has hosted World Cups plenty of times before, most recently in 2022, the course will be a new one, with not even the hometown Canadians familiar with what to expect ahead of qualification days on 18 and 19 January for races on 20 and 21 January.

"I think the new course at Nakiska is going to be a surprise for everyone," Thompson told FIS. "I'm hoping for some big jumps and flow and a good start section and lots of fun - maybe some bank turns would be good."

Defending men's Crystal Globe champion Reece Howden added: "It will be a little bit of a new race for everybody. They're changing out the top side at the top end of the course quite a bit, so basically it's going to be a new track, which is super cool and I think it's really good for the younger guys too because everybody's kind of on a bit of a similar playing field."

The pair are looking forward to skiing in front of their home support next weekend. "It's always fun having a race at home in Canada because we've got lots of friends and family who are going to show up and cheer very loud and give us all the support we need," Thompson said.

The women's section has been highly competitive this season. When Sandra Naeslund eased to victory in the first race at Val Thorens in December, it seemed like she would have things all her own way like she had the season before.

However, the Swede missed out on the podium the following day as Germany's Daniela Maier won her first ever World Cup race, before missing out on the big final entirely in Arosa as Canada's Hannah Schmidt followed in Maier's footsteps.

Naeslund did win again in the first race at Innichen, but the second day saw Sixtine Cousin become the third woman to take a maiden World Cup victory this season when she won the final race of 2023.

"I think it's great to see so many women stepping up this year," Thompson said.

"It makes me want to ski my best every run because there's no guarantees to make it into the semi-finals and then either small final or big final. I just have to ski my best."

Naelsund is still top of the overall standings thanks to her two victories, but France’s Marielle Berger Sabbatel is only five points behind her, with Maier and Schmidt in third and fourth respectively.

Thompson lies fifth in the standings after appearing in five small finals and one big final so far this season - but is hoping to do better in 2024.

"My season so far has been good but I've definitely been wanting more and I feel like my skiing is in a better place than the small final,” she said.

"Obviously I have the speed, especially with some good qualifying - being so close to close to Sandra is always a positive. Going into the new year, I'm taking those positives and trying to have some confidence going into the Nakiska races.

"Anytime I'm racing I went to be on that top step, and having had such success in Nakiska before I know I can build on that. With how I've been skiing in December I'm feeling really optimistic and hopefully I can bring the speed and show the Canadian crowd what's up."

The men's section, on the other hand, has not been nearly as close. Schmidt's brother Jared has been the man to catch all season, having won three out of the five races so far - and rather incredibly remains the only man to get on the podium more than once this season.

The other athletes have been marginally saved by the fact that in the races Schmidt didn't win he fell out before the quarter-final stage, but he is still a good 135 points ahead of France's Terence Tchiknavorian in second place.

Howden is in third overall, having consistently made small and big finals throughout the season - something he has previously said is key to staying in the fight.

Thompson and Howden benefit from a highly competitive training environment. With two Canadians in the top three of the men’s section, and three in the top six of the women’s, it can only mean all the hometown athletes will be more than ready when things kick off in Nakiska next week.

"Having so many Canadians in the top is always beneficial,” Thompson said. “We are pushing ourselves and each other in the gym and on the hill and I think it will continue to keep benefitting all of us."

Howden concluded: “We want the flag to be held high, that's why we're here and that's where our funding comes from.

“We've had a lot of success and we want to keep it rolling. There's definitely an aspect that if you're there you want to be producing results and showing the world that you guys have what it takes.

“We're definitely doing that this year and we just want to keep it rolling and then really try to jack it up when it comes to rolling back home in Nakiska - that's when we really want to throw it down."

Nakiska World Cup qualification days are 18 and 19 January, with races taking place on 20 and 21 January