Schmidt siblings hoping for repeat of ‘special’ history-making night in Arosa

Jared and Hannah Schmidt are hoping to recreate their ’special’ history-making night when the FIS Ski Cross World Cup returns in Arosa on Tuesday night.

In last year’s event in the same location, the pair became the first set of siblings to win Ski Cross World Cups on the same day.

Hannah Schmidt crossed the line unchallenged in her big final after a crash saw off all three of her opponents - Marielle Thompson, Christina Foedermayr and Marielle Berger Sabbatel - in one fell swoop to win a career-first World Cup.

“It was kind of bittersweet in the sense that I wanted to celebrate my first victory, but it was hard because the three three others in the final fell down - but still it didn't take away from how I was skiing that whole night,” Hannah Schmidt told FIS.

“I had really fast starts, I was skiing fast, and I proved that I could be in there in that final. It was an awesome race.”

Hannah Schmidt didn’t even realise her brother was involved in the men’s showpiece until right after her victory.

“I actually didn't even know he was in the big final until I got to the bottom of my race, and then watching him cross in first I think I was more emotional then than when I finished. It was pretty amazing,” she said.

With such short turnarounds on Arosa’s quick course, Jared Schmidt was equally in the dark about what his sibling was up to as he was preparing for his race.

“I knew Hannah was in the big final before they sent the men's big final down, so I knew she had a shot at winning,” he says.

“I didn't really fully realize until she came into the finish area after I had won, and we were able to celebrate together. It was awesome.”

Jared Schmidt says the pair marked the occasion together, but that thoughts were quickly focused on their next races.

“We had a pretty short little celebration for Hannah and I. We just kind of celebrated as a team. We don't really have much time in between events, so it was kind of like ‘next focus, on to Innichen’,” he said.

“We called our family, and my mom and dad and my grandparents and everyone was just super excited. It was a great night for the Schmidts.”

Hannah Schmidt adds: “Sharing the gold, I guess you could say, with Jared on the same night was pretty special. No one has ever been able to say that they've done that. So doing that together was amazing.”

'It pushes me for sure'

The Ski Cross World Cup kicked off with a bang in Val Thorens last week, with the returning Daniela Maier picking up two podiums along with reigning Crystal Globe winner Thompson, while Fanny Smith marked her return with a podium place on day one and India Sherret claimed day two’s big final.

There was no such dream return from injury for Sandra Naeslund, who crashed out in her opening race at the quarter-final stage, and did not start on day two as a result.

It all means the competition for top spots in the women’s overall is already underway, something Hannah Schmidt says will help keep her in sharp focus as the season progresses.

“Everyone's skiing fast right now, everyone has that motivation to push hard. And that's good, it pushes me for sure,” she said.

“It's a super strong field, it always has been. Having Dani back, having Sandra, Fanny, obviously Marielle, one of my teammates, she's skiing crazy fast right now, and even India.

“We're a strong women's field right now, and I think having that, it motivates me more to find those imperfections and find those things to work on, and from race to race, making sure I'm getting all that under my belt.

“Coming back from injury is definitely hard, it’s a bit of a mind battle, but that confidence is coming back. I’m looking forward to the season with with all the girls back.”

'I'm feeling fast'

The men’s section also threw up plenty of drama as well as history in Val Thorens, with the second race ending in a tie on day two as Alex Fiva and Adam Kappacher crossed the line next to each other for what was a first in a Ski Cross World Cup big final.

There was also a good fight on day one, as Simone Deromedis put down a clean run to cross the finish line ahead of the outstretched hand of German Florian Wilmsmann

It was a good indicator for how close things will be for the men this season, and Jared Schmidt is ready to compete with all-comers as he looks to put his opening-weekend finishes of 32nd and 31st behind him.

“Coming off Val Thorens, I'm actually feeling pretty good. I mean, I don't really have any results to show for my skiing right now, but I'm feeling really healthy. I'm feeling fast,” he said.

He’s not the only Canadian feeling in good form. Canada’s women did the double as Thompson and Sherret stood on top of the podium across the two days, while Thompson also finished third on day two. Add to that two third-place finishes from Kevin Drury, and the Canadians had five out of a possible 12 podium places in France last weekend.

“Our team is feeling great,” Jared Schmidt said. “I think we've got a great atmosphere, obviously having Marielle with the win the first day, India the second day, and then Kevin with the two third places.

“We're all kind of looking at that, the athletes who haven't been on the podium, and we know we can be right there. So we're definitely excited to to keep racing and get back in the gate tomorrow night here in Arosa, and start to get it rolling again. I’m looking forward to some fast skiing and fun heats.”

For Jared Schmidt, the message is clear, regardless of his results he’s enjoying his racing, confident in the knowledge that the next event is a place he enjoys racing and therefore one that could yield another result for him one year on from that special night.

“I love Arosa. It’s one event, so we don't have a back-to-back race, but there’s something about racing underneath the lights and having a crowd there, the flames, the whole deal,” he said. “It's just an awesome event.

“This could very well be the one that gets this season started here. Like I said before, I know I'm skiing fast, and it's just kind of being in the right place and executing and making sure everything's dialled in and skiing fast and having fun.

“Our team has been skiing really well, and I'm looking forward to more results from the whole team and hopefully stepping on to that podium again this year in Arosa.”