'Dream come true': First World Cup wins for Sherret and Mobaerg

India Sherret and Erik Mobaerg claimed their first ever FIS Ski Cross World Cup victories on day one in Alleghe on Friday.

Canadian Sherret had previously appeared on the podium three times in her career, the last of which came in December 2019, but she showed no nerves as she went out in front early in the big final against Marielle Berger Sabbatel, Saskja Lack and Talina Gantenbein.

“I don't even really know what I'm feeling right now, I feel so proud and so thankful,” Sherret said.

“It's been four years since I've been on a podium and it's been a rough go but I know that I've always had it in there.

“I really just today was able to put it all together. I knew I was strong in the start and just held it the whole way down. Crazy!

“I'm really grateful for everyone that's continued to believe in me - team, family, friends, sponsors. I really couldn't have done it without any of them.

“There's been so much hard work to get to this point. Honestly, so many times where I questioned whether or not it was worth it, but in my heart I always know that I love this sport.

"So it's made every hard moment worth it. I'm just so happy that all the work has paid off."

With fellow Canadians Marielle Thompson and overall leader Hannah Schmidt not making it through to the big final it was an opportunity for France's Berger Sabbatel to take advantage with a big points haul, but she was only able to finish fourth.

She was beaten to the podium places by Swiss pair Lack and Gantenbein, who finished second and third respectively. It was a first ever World Cup podium for Lack, who finished fourth in St. Moritz last week, and a first podium of the season for Gantenbein.

"I was pretty bummed after St. Moritz and to get this just the race after is great," Lack said.

"I got faster from start to start. That was pretty much the thing I wanted because it was hard to pass at the bottom.

"That's where I want to be, so I hope I keep making finals and keep making podiums for the rest of the season."

Thompson went on to win the small final ahead of compatriots Brittany Phelan and Schmidt, with Austria's Katrin Ofner finishing eighth.

Seventh place was enough for Schmidt to hang onto the overall lead, but there is now only a little over 50 points between her, Berger Sabbatel and Thompson in the top three. Fanny Smith, who did not race on Friday after suffering a fall in qualifying, lies in fourth place.

‘This is a dream come true’

There was also a first career win in the men's section after Sweden’s Mobaerg stunned Alex Fiva of Switzerland late in the big final.

Fiva, who also came second in his home race at St. Moritz last week, appeared to have the final locked up until Mobaerg surged past him on the dragon feature right at the end of the course.

"I just had some great skis on me and it was just hunger for today - it led me all the way up," Mobaerg said.

"I'm just so happy. This is a dream come true - first win for me in the World Cup. I've been racing for a couple of years now and it was just time to do it.”

Asked what was going through his head as he passed Fiva, Mobaerg said with a laugh: "It was pretty empty actually - it usually is.

“I don't know. I had a good feeling today and I was aggressive at the right times.

"I think I feel it's my day most of the days in racing, but everything just clicked today. I'm super happy."

Fiva said: "If you lead through almost the whole way down you want to win, but Erik was really fast over the dragon and we had a little headwind there. I'm happy with the result but the win was my goal today."

Niklas Bachsleitner, who came into the day in 31st place overall, came third for his first podium of the season, while Terence Tchiknavorian finished fourth.

"I always knew that I'm fast this year but in the races I never had the right momentum with me," Bachsleitner said.

"Today everything was great for me. Until the final I had great races, great heats, and now the podium feels great. It was my time today."

Reece Howden won the small final, followed by Youri Duplessis Kergomard, Carson Cook and Florian Wilmsmann.

With Jared Schmidt not able to make it out of the first heat of the day, it meant Howden's fifth-place finish was enough to see him go top of the overall standings, while Fiva moves into third place and Tchiknavorian drops to fourth. There are just 17 points separating first and fourth as we reach the halfway stage of the World Cup season.

The skiers return to the course for day two of World Cup racing in Alleghe on Saturday 3 February.