Smith completes Craigleith double to storm to top of Ski Cross World Cup standings

Fanny Smith (SUI) spoiled the Canadian party on Saturday to take her second victory in as many days in Craigleith and leapfrog India Sherret at the top of the FIS Ski Cross World Cup standings.

With her long-time rival Marielle Thompson (CAN) ruled out for the rest of the season through injury, 32-year-old Smith is now favourite to claim her fourth Crystal Globe with just two races of the World Cup season remaining.

After Sherret and fellow contender Daniela Maier (GER) both failed to make it past Saturday’s quarter-finals in mild, rainy conditions on the shores of Lake Huron, Smith was in ominously good form. She led each of her races from start to finish and – crucially on a course that had a tricky turns section at the top and two big jumps that caused many racers to lose momentum – didn’t make any mistakes on her way to a third victory and ninth podium of the season.

It also means she will head into the Freestyle Skiing World Cup on home snow in Switzerland next week confident of claiming her second gold medal, the first coming 12 years ago.

Sherret said at the beginning of the day that the start would be all-important, and so it proved in the Big Final, as Smith edged ahead of two Canadians, Courtney Hoffos and Abby McEwen. On a course that offered few overtaking opportunities, the positions remained unchanged until the finish line.

“The important thing was to be fast out of the gate and secure into those first turns,” Smith admitted. “That’s what I did, so it works. After the crash I had at the beginning of the season and missing two races, I’m really happy now. I knew I was fit at the start of the season but unfortunately, I had a crash in the third race and that kind of stopped me. Now it’s good.”

“I quite like Craigleith. It’s a good course, something different to what we are used to. Really fast, tricky turns – that’s not my favourite part but still really fun to ski.”

Smith is now on 916 World Cup points, ahead of Sherret (869) and Jole Galli (781) who, finished fourth in Saturday’s Big Final.

Ahead of Galli, Hoffos celebrated her ninth World Cup podium and best showing of the season after two third places.

“Oh my gosh, it’s so fun,” she said of skiing in front of her home crowd. “Having Abby [McEwen] for her first World Cup podium, it’s just unreal. I was so stoked for her – it always bring a new energy. Super exciting.”

“I didn’t have my best day yesterday, so I was definitely trying to dig for a little bit more and figure out what I could do to be competitive today. Definitely going to celebrate today because we have our parents and so many supporters out here.”

McEwen was understandably delighted with her first podium in her seventh season of racing, after six top-eight finishes this season. “I don’t think this day could get any better,” she said. “My parents are here, on home soil, I am so excited.”

Wilmsmann bounces back to lead men’s standings

The race for the men’s Crystal Globe looks to be going down to the wire. Going into Saturday’s race, there were realistically only three contenders for the Overall World Cup title, Simone Deromedis (ITA), Reece Howden (CAN) and Florian Wilmsmann.

The Italian held the lead, but after crashing out in the quarter-finals of Friday’s race, he pulled up early in his heat on Saturday. This left the door open for Wilmsmann and two-time champion Howden – and they took full advantage by claiming the top two spots. But who would top the podium and claim 100 valuable World Cup points?

Both trailed reigning World Cup champions David Mobaerg (SWE) in the Big Final, but the Swede crashed after casing the second of the big jumps. This allowed Wilmsmann to take the fifth World Cup victory of his career and third of the season, while Howden recovered from a slow start to overhaul compatriot Kevin Drury. This made it four podiums for Canada on the day but no victory.

“It was pretty tough racing here, it was brutal,” Wilmsmann said. “It was a different race [in the conditions]: you just have to focus on yourself and make the best out of every situation.

“After yesterday’s fourth place, it’s really nice to turn it around here today. It’s good for me; to win a World Cup is always great.”

Howden, meanwhile, said it was “a pretty good weekend” after his victory on Friday: “Having two podiums in front of our home fans, that’s pretty big. That second race was a bit of a dogfight. For whatever reason, I was struggling coming out of the gate but I just stayed calm and made sure I made some sweet passes today.”

For Drury, it was a fifth podium of the season and second in as many days. “Nothing is going through my head, I’m just so happy,” he said. “Today with this weather, with the conditions, I was very much going heat by heat, and sometimes when you have that release of pressure, that’s when stuff happens. It’s just a great day.”

“We fly to the world champs tomorrow night so we can spend some time with friends and family… maybe a beer!”

Wilmsmann now leads the Overall standings on 850 points, just ahead of Howden (838) and Deromedis (825) with just two races of the FIS Ski Cross World Cup to go.

The FIS Ski Cross World Cup concludes with two races in Idre Fjäll, Sweden on March 28-30, after the World Championships in Engadin, Switzerland on March 21-22.