Howden does the Idre Fjäll double to claim his third Ski Cross Crystal Globe

Reece Howden won the men's big final on day two at Idre Fjäll to secure a third FIS Ski Cross Crystal Globe of his career.

As expected, the season had gone down to the wire as the Canadian was joined in the big final by his rival for the Overall, Simone Deromedis, with both still in with a chance to win the title after Florian Wilmsmann had fallen away following a disappointing result on day one.

Deromedis needed to win the big final and hope that Howden finished third or fourth in order for the Italian to win the Globe, but Deromedis suffered a poor start to the showpiece, and couldn't recover as he had done in so many previous races across both days in Sweden.

Howden was behind team-mate Kristofor Mahler for much of the big final, but crucially ahead of his Italian rival who was at the back of the race for the majority.

There was jostling for places near the finish, however, as Howden, Youri Duplessis Kergomard and Deromedis all passed Mahler in succession late on, with Duplessis Kergomard coming second and Deromedis capping off a hard-fought season with third spot.

"It doesn't get any more of a battle than that, me and Simone in the big final, side by side in the gate," Howden said.

"I'm just happy I was able to hold it all together.

"Today was a mental battle for sure. Just being at the front there and kind of going through all the rounds, then keeping an eye on Simone and Florian there, and watching them go through.

"It was a mental battle, physical battle. The body was feeling pretty heavy at the top today, especially on that last run, the legs were starting to lock out on me a bit.

"You can't completely kill the stress and being anxious. I just tried my best to ignore it and put it at the back of my mind. It was an unreal day and just an unreal season."

It means Howden now has three titles to his name after winning the Globe in 2021 and 2023, and has matched the number won by his idol Jean-Frédéric Chapuis, who claimed three consecutive Globes between 2015 and 2017.

"Next to Olympic medals, World Championship stuff, anything, the biggest goal for me was to compete with Mr. Jean-Frédéric Chapuis," Howden said.

"He's been real big inspiration, just seeing his dominance was huge back when I was growing up.

"The goal has been three Globes, and it's been a battle. I haven't been able to do consecutive back-to-back seasons, but in five years we were able to make it happen.

"Unreal. So much great support from the team, family, friends, all the supporters.

"I'm just so happy that I'm able to do my job and make it all happen, whether there's a little bit of pain to go along the way, but you know, that makes it feel good.

"It's unreal. This has been the big goal for a long time, the dream, and we're just going to try and keep it rolling."

For Deromedis, it was a disappointing end to a season in which he held the Overall lead going into the penultimate stop in Craigleith, where he was unable to race on day two after picking up an injury on the opening day.

However, the 24-year-old bounced back impressively at the World Championships last week, and came within a few seconds of claiming his first ever Crystal Globe this weekend.

Deromedis claimed an incredible 10 podiums this season, smashing his previous best of four podiums which he managed last year.

"For sure my very best season. I had good feelings, I more or less did a podium every race. I am super stoked with that," he said.

"I hoped to be a bit more lucky with Reece but he was so consistent this week and he was just unbeatable. He was in the lead and I could not catch him up.

"I'm really happy with my skiing and everything. I did everything I could, that's ski cross, that's part of the game."

Wilmsmann cut a disappointed figure in the finish area after coming into the final weekend as the Overall leader, but being forced to settle for third in the end after his early exit on day one had scuppered his chances of winning a first Globe.

"When you come here to the finals as World Cup leader you want to still be World Cup leader after two races, that's for sure," the German said.

"Yesterday was a big disappointment, today I was skiing really well. I'm still really proud of my skiing here, especially today but all the season.

"You have to focus on yourself and see what right steps you've made this season, where you can improve, then just begin again next year.

"At the moment I feel really empty, there is nothing left any more. I'm flying to Indonesia in two weeks.

"After that I will think about the summer and the next season. Until then, I'm just happy that it's over now."

Globe winner Smith caps off perfect end to season

In the women's section, Switzerland's Fanny Smith capped off a perfect end to her season by winning Sunday's big final ahead of Canada's Courtney Hoffos, Switzerland team-mate Talina Gantenbein, and Daniela Maier of Germany.

Smith had already secured the women's Crystal Globe with a third-place finish on day one, but went one better on day two to end her sensational campaign on a high.

The Swiss star was on the podium for each of the last seven World Cup races, including four victories, to go with winning gold in the individual as well as the team event at last week's World Championships.

"I'm really happy. I love this course, it's a lot of fun," Smith said.

"I really wanted to finish perfectly and that's amazing to win today in Idre Fjäll."

Of her big final battle with Hoffos which went all the way to the finish line, Smith said: "I could feel it and I knew that she would come, or someone would come, because the two big last jumps I really didn't make them well.

"The legs are tired, so it's good it's finished. It has been an amazing season."

Earlier in the day, Smith's Swiss team-mate Marc Bischofberger took part in his final World Cup race, bowing out in the first heat as the 34-year-old bid farewell to the sport of ski cross.

"I'm going to celebrate with the team," Smith said of how she will mark her achievement. "Bischy is retired now. It was his last season, last race.

"He's going to be missed in the team. I really wish him all the best in the future with his family. We're just going to enjoy the time all together."

Hoffos' second-place finish means she ends her season with five World Cup podiums, beating her previous best campaign of three top-three results which she achieved in 2020.

For Maier, her podium ensured she will end the season in second place behind Smith after a season in which she claimed three victories and seven podiums on her comeback from injury.

"This was my best season so far," the German said.

"I can learn a lot from this season. I am just so happy that the end was pretty good again. It gives me a lot of confidence for sure.

"It's amazing, I've never been on the podium in the Overall and now I'm second. It's really awesome. I will take this confidence and this good feeling into the next season."

There were some absentees who were unable to fight for the women's Overall on the final weekend after picking up injuries.

Canadian pair Marielle Thompson and India Sherret were both in the hunt for the Crystal Globe before their seasons ended were ended cruelly, and Howden paid tribute to his team-mates after his victory - with Sherret finishing third in the Overall despite not competing on the final weekend.

"Huge shout out to India and Marielle," Howden said. "They had amazing seasons, really battled hard, and they would have been on this podium for the Overall if they were able to keep from getting injured.

"Hats off to those ladies, they had an amazing season and they're healing up good. I've been talking to them a little bit and it sounds like they're doing all right.

"Canada ski cross; it's been an honor to be a part of it, and I'm so happy to be able to represent the leaf."