Midol and Smith take Crystal Globes in Veysonnaz
Mar 17, 2019·Ski Cross
Veysonnaz (SUI) - The 2018/19 Audi FIS Ski Cross World Cup season wrapped up in spectacular fashion on Sunday, where an at-times wild race saw Marielle Thompson (CAN) and Jean Frederic Chapuis (FRA) claim the day’s wins, while Fanny Smith (SUI) and Bastien Midol (FRA) were awarded with the crystal globes as the top overall athletes on the season.
After sitting out all of 2017/18 with a knee injury, Thompson was enjoying a highly successful comeback season even before in Veysonnaz, in which she had earned four podiums as well as the gold medal at the Utah 2019 world championships, though she had yet to reach the top of the World Cup podium this season.
Of course, that all changed on Sunday, as Thompson skied a masterful race from start to finish, showing no hesitation on a challenging Veysonnaz course that was made even more tricky by some gusty winds throughout the final heats. Thompson would win the big final by a healthy margin over second-place Sandra Naeslund, while France’s Alizee Baron would finish the day in third for her fourth podium of the season.
“It’s nice to end the season with a win,” the easy-going Canadian Thompson said just after the big final, “I’ve been really happy with my skiing this season but I’ve just been a bit unlucky, I think. So to come out here and put it all together today is a big positive and it gives me something to build on for next year. Winning at world champs was the big highlight of the season, so to finish off the World Cup with a win is kind of just icing on the cake.”
Thompson would finish the season in third place overall, while last year’s crystal globe winner Naeslund would end the winter in second overall after a season in which she earned seven podiums, including three victories.
However, the year’s big winner was Fanny Smith who, despite a slightly disappointing seventh place finish to end the season on Sunday in Veysonnaz, was nearly unstoppable throughout the year, claiming seven podiums - six of which were victories - to earn the second crystal globe of her career.
“I just so happy to get this crystal globe here Veysonnaz,” Smith said, globe in hand, “So many people came here to watch and support me and it’s really special. Even though I knew I had the globe before the start of the race there was still some pressure because so many people came here, and I think I skied well today even though it wasn’t my best result. I’m really thankful to end the season like this.”
Chapuis finishes of big year for French squad with win
In the men’s competition it was another big day for the French, with Jean Frederic Chapuis swooping to his third victory of the season to increase his lead atop the men’s ski cross World Cup all-time wins list even further, with what is now his 18th victory.
“It’s always better to win than to make second or third,” Chapuis said with a laugh after the awards ceremony, “I know I have to work hard for next year to improve so I can try to get back into first overall. But it’s been a good season for the French, with Bastien (Midol) taking the globe and Francois (Place) winning at world champs. We have a really strong team and it’s hard even just to be the best on our team. But a day like today is always fun, with every fanclub for all of our team is here, having a big party together…that’s the ski cross spirit.”
Just behind Chapuis in second was the reigning Olympic champion Brady Leman (CAN), capping off what was something of an up-and-down 2018/19 for the 32-year-old with his fourth podium and second victory.
Third place on Sunday belonged to Midol, as he finished off one of the most impressive start-to-finish men’s Audi FIS Ski Cross World Cup campaigns we’ve seen in a decade with what his seventh podium. Through the 11 competitions in 2018/19 Midol never finished lower than seventh, which is a level of consistency that is almost unheard of on the men’s side of the SX World Cup.
“It’s been amazing season,” Midol said, “I really can’t believe it, to have this globe. It’s just…wow. I actually had some big pressure today, even though I knew I would win the globe, because I have my family and my friends here to watch. So I’m very happy to finish third for them today and be able to share the crystal globe with them.”
Just behind Midol on the overall rankings was Chapuis, making it the seventh-straight season that he has finished in the top five overall, as the 30-year-old continues to strengthen the argument that he might just be the greatest ski cross racer of all time.
Alex Fiva (SUI) would round out the season podium in third, doing a huge part towards helping the Swiss earn the 2018/19 ski cross Nations Cup trophy as the top team on the season. And, to cap off what was a hugely successful season finale for the Swiss squad on home soil, Sixtine Cousin and Sandro Siebenhofer were awarded the respective ladies’ and men’s Rookie of the Year honours.
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