SX grand finale to go down in Veysonnaz
Mar 20, 2021·Ski Cross
We have reached the final stop of the Audi FIS Ski Cross World Cup season 2020/21, which for the second time (after last year’s unfortunate cancellation) will be taking place in Switzerland’s Veysonnaz resort. It was the general idea to establish Veysonnaz as the final resort to conclude both, the FIS Snowboard Cross and Audi FIS Ski Cross World Cup tours together at this final stage.
Therefore, the resort is working hard to give the final World Cup weekend its best, even though it will be going down without spectators on site. But it is always something special, when the overall globes are going to be handed in after an intense World Cup season with 11 races in the books so far and one to go, plus one World Champs competition.
Despite several challenges due to obvious reasons, the Audi FIS Ski Cross World Cup season 2020/21 was highly successful with competitions conducted at seven venues across seven countries and one more venue to go in Veysonnaz. Athletes were pushing really hard to give it their absolute best and fans got to witness a great season with some really special treats.
Just to point out a few:
- we had the first-ever installment of the Idre Fjäll TRE, three races within five days with the opening competition being a 600m straight sprint.
- Fanny Smith broke Ophelie David’s record for most wins (26) and holds now the new record with so far 29 wins. These are most World Cup victories for a man or woman up to date.
- Sandra Naeslund was absent throughout the first half of the season due to a knee injury, only to come back to her first competition this season being the World Champs on home soil to take the gold medal.
- Two new venues premiered as World Cup hosts this season: Austria’s Reiteralm and 2023 FIS Freestyle Ski, Snowboard and Freeski World Championships host Bakuriani (GEO).
- There, in the Georgian resort, we also got to witness the world premiere of the ski cross mixed-team event, which saw Team Switzerland win with Fanny Smith and Jonas Lenherr representing their nation.
- Another remarkable thing this season, worth mentioning, is the fact that since the FIS Freestyle Ski, Snowboard and Freeski World Championships Zhangjiakou (CHN), had to be cancelled earlier this season, the amazing organizing committee of Idre Fjäll (SWE), was able to organize Cross World Champs in just three weeks time. And they did a tremendous job by hosting a great event, where a total of 18 medals was handed out. Needless to say, that not only the FIS Cross race management, but the athletes were super thankful to have a major event at last this season. So, big shout out to Idre Fjäll for making this happen!
Smith takes home third SX crystal globe
Entering the final competition of the season, it is worth mentioning that we are racing in Fanny Smith’s living room. The Swiss athlete from Villars has had an extraordinarily successful season so far by grabbing 10 podiums, of which it was 7 times the top spot, including the team spirit effort at the world premiere of the mixed team event with Jonas Lenherr.
Add a World Champs silver medal and the fact that she has set a new record for most World Cup victories among men and women, and an early SX crystal globe win to that list and it will be clear to understand, why Smith has been the most successful female athlete of the season.
Although we would have loved to see the final battle for the crystal globe go down at the very last competition of the season, we can’t say that Smith hasn’t deserved her third career crystal globe in an incredible manner with a total of 865 points, which is a 390-point margin ahead of Marielle Thompson (CAN), who is sitting in second. So, we just want to take a moment and really congratulate the winningest ski cross athlete of all time.
Speaking of Thompson, we have sad news, as the Canadian athlete will be missing to participate in the World Cup finals this Sunday, as she is suffering from a knee injury. Therefore, she will not be able to defend her second rank in the overall standings.
It is very likely that one of the two French ladies, either Alizee Baron (435 points) or Marielle Berger Sabbatel (429 points) will grab the second and third spots of the World Cup ranks. It will be interesting to see, who will make it to which place though, as both athletes have had a highly successful season so far.
With back-to-back podiums in Idre in January, of which one was a victory, Baron showed a strong comeback after an injury-forced season off. Already at the season opening races she had made it to the big final twice, finishing fourth respectively. With a bronze medal at the World Champs in Idre, that was surely a good and important confidence boost for the French.
Currently sitting in fourth, Berger Sabbatel, who took a crash during training in Sunny Valley and therefore was not able to race in the finals at the Russian penultimate stop of the World Cup tour, will be seeking to fight for the third spot at the overall ranking and we can expect her to fight her teammate for that rank.
Reece Howden claims first SX crystal globe after incredible season
22-year-old Canadian Reece Howden has also already secured his crystal globe. With six podiums, of which it was four victories this season, the tall Canadian showed that with his incredible racing, he is truly the best male athlete this year.
A total of 662 points makes sure that nobody from his competition can take the globe away from him. It will be the second consecutive year that a male Canadian athlete will walk home with a ski cross crystal globe after last year’s winner Kevin Drury, who unfortunately had to end his season pretty early, because of an injury he suffered from back in December.
So, also on the men’s side of things, the battle for second and third rank are still open. On second place, we currently have Jonas Lenherr (SUI) with 373 points. For the Swiss athlete, the Idre Fjäll TRE were highly successful. One fourth place and back-to-back podiums with one second and one third place earned him some valuable points. A small final win in Reiteralm and the team win in Bakuriani together with Fanny Smith showed that he is in really good racing mood this year.
Only 7 points behind Lenherr is Frenchman Bastien Midol, sitting in third rank. The 30-year-old claimed a win at the Idre sprint and a third place at Reiteralm (AUT) and made it to the small final three times, of which he won it twice.
Theoretically, Ryan Regez (SUI) would have been in the mix for that second and third battle, but he recently suffered from an injury during training and therefore will not be able to fight for this rank.
So, the only next one in line, according to the rankings, is David Mobaerg (SWE), who currently has a total of 339 points.
As for the second and third rank in the overall ranking, it is pretty tight among men, so we can expect quite a tough battle on Sunday.
As every year, also the female and male rookies of the year are going to be awarded at the season finals. There will be a vote among all team captains on the day before finals and the previously determined candidates with the most votes will be awarded “Rookie of the year”.
Also, the Nations Cup is going to be awarded at the season’s final award ceremony to the nation with the most number of points earned throughout the season.
Veysonnaz title defenders from March 2019: Marielle Thompson (CAN – not competing due to injury) and Jean-Frédéric Chapuis (FRA)
Last year’s SX Crystal Globe winners: Sandra Naeslund (SWE) and Kevin Drury (CAN – absent due to injury).
Since the best 16 women and best 32 men from the World Cup standings are the ones already qualified for the finals, we are heading straight into finals on March 21 at 14:15 CET.
Do not miss the final show of the year – it is going to be awesome!
WATCH LIVE (subject to change)
Sunday, March 21 at 14:15 CET:
TV: ORF Sport+ at 14:30 CET(Austria), SRF 2 at 14:45 CET (Switzerland), SVT 1 (Sweden)
Livestream: swisscom.bluesport, swiss-ski.ch (Switzerland), Eurosport player (Europe), Peacock (USA)
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