Naeslund and Drury claim Ski Cross Crystal Globes 2019/20
Mar 14, 2020·Ski Cross
Due to the continued outbreak and spread of the Novel Coronavirus, and restrictions on public gatherings in Switzerland, along with the increased travel restrictions announced, the Audi FIS Ski Cross World Cup Finals in Switzerland had to be cancelled
Ski Cross Crystal Globe fight on the women’s side over
This means that the open fight for the ski cross Crystal Globe is not going to be carried out. As Sandra Naeslund (SWE) was 59 points ahead of her chaser Fanny Smith (SUI), the Crystal Globe went to the Swedish 23-year-old for the second time after her hugely successful season of 2017/18, where she also won the FIS Freestyle Overall Crystal Globe by landing on the podium at each competition of the season, mostly at the very top in first place.
Since Naeslund had crashed in the semifinals at the previous competition in Sunny Valley (RUS), she was “only” able to win the small final, not allowing her to earn enough points to seal the deal completely on the overall SX World Cup win, therefore we would have loved to watch the final fight between the two exceptional athletes. Naeslund has been on the podium nine times this season, of which she took home three victories.
The fight over the SX Crystal Globe would have been carried out on Fanny Smith’s home soil with her family and friends cheering her on, which she claims to be a big motivation, but also big pressure for her. For sure this would have given the Swiss ski cross star a big kick to try to get that highly anticipated Crystal Globe home again.
Smith has had a highly successful season this year with seven podium spots of which four were wins. It should also be noted that Smith has won her first SX Crystal Globe in 2013 and ever since has never finished a season below the third World Cup rank.
So, in theory, Smith still had a chance to grab the globe this season, but with the unfortunate cancellation of the event, the Crystal Globe of 2019/20 went to Sandra Naeslund (SWE).
Marielle Thompson (CAN) secured the third rank in the overall standings for the second year in a row after also a quite successful season, but not enough podium spots to have been in the fight for the first rank.
Kevin Drury is the ski cross Crystal Globe winner of 2019/20
Ever since his win in Megève (FRA) at the beginning of February, Kevin Drury (CAN) has earned a margin of World Cup points big enough to not be threatened by anyone of his competitiors. Drury has had the most successful season of his career, having landed on the podium either as winner or in second position in seven out of ten competitions this year.
Drury seemed to be unstoppable and always on fire, showing incredible passes, great technical skills and some really fast skiing.
Nobody of his competitors was able to reach the level Drury showed from the beginning of December. Therefore, the Crystal Globe is for sure very well deserved!
The battle for second and third overall ski cross rank on the men’s side, however, was still open. With the cancellation of the finals, the second rank goes to Ryan Regez (SUI) with a total of 454 points (314 points behind Drury), and third rank goes to Olympic Champion Brady Leman (CAN) with 428 points.
Thomas Mayrpeter from Austria and Canada’s Courtney Hoffos have won the Rookie of the year awards of the season and the Nation Cup went to an unbeatable Canadaian team this year.
It is really unfortunate that we cannot witness the final show of the year and that the season had to come to an abrupt end without proper finals, but the health and welfare of the athletes and all other participants, as well as the general public are in the forefront and the priority of all stakeholders of FIS competitions and therefore we wish everyone safe travels home.
Congratulations to everybody on an amazing season, congratulations to the World Cup winners and FIS Freestyle wishes everyone a great summer, see you again next season!
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Crystal globe photo shoot – courtesy of Tyler Wallash (Sandra Naeslund’s photo to follow)
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