Thompson picks up where she left off to win Ski Cross World Cup opener in Val Thorens

Marielle Thompson started the new season as she finished the last, winning the women's big final at the opening race of the FIS Ski Cross World Cup at Val Thorens on Thursday.

Thompson finished ahead of second-place Fanny Smith, with whom she had a big battle in the opening exchanges of the final before putting a gap between the pair by taking a good line on the difficult negative turn.

Asked if she felt confident going into the day's racing, Thompson told FIS: "Definitely, actually. I'm 32 and that's my 32nd win so that's pretty cool."

"It was tough racing out there," the women's reigning Crystal Globe winner added. "That final was pretty exciting and I just tried to stick with my plan, which was to make the least amount of mistakes possible.

"It gives me a lot of confidence going into the season knowing that all my preparation was really strong. It's just really rewarding and kind of a relief honestly. It's a great start to the season."

A place on the podium marked an impressive return for Smith, who missed much of last season through injury - as did Germany's Daniela Maier who came in third in the big final. Smith's Swiss team-mate Talina Gantenbein finished fourth.

"I feel really, really happy," Smith said. "I had really two tough years for me mentally and I'm really happy to start the season like this. I feel great on my skis.

"I enjoy skiing in those finals, it was cool being with the girls. It was good fun."

Maier said: "It's crazy. I'm so happy with (third), especially because I was really nervous before the race. I didn't know where I stood in terms of how I would race again.

"It was so much fun today. It was so tight and really good weather. I'm happy with the podium."

There was, however, no dream return for Sandra Naeslund, who shocked the French crowd by losing her balance on the negative turn to crash out of her quarter-final, ultimately finishing the day in 13th place.

Meanwhile, Canada’s India Sherret put the disappointment of a poor semi-final behind her to win the small final, finishing ahead of French pair Mylene Ballet Baz and Marielle Berger Sabbatel, as well as compatriot Hannah Schmidt.

Schmidt's brother Jared did not fare as well in the season opener, missing out on a place in the quarter-finals after things didn't quite click for the Canadian in his first heat of the day.

'I'm really happy I broke the spell'

The men's big final was won by a photo finish as Italy's Simone Deromedis completed a clean race to cross the finish line ahead of the outstretched hand of German Florian Wilmsmann. Canadian pair Kevin Drury and Reece Howden finished third and fourth respectively.

The podium finish mirrored exactly how things played out in Wednesday's qualifying. In fact, the top six from qualifying all finished in the top six of the race.

"It's amazing," Deromedis told FIS. "I had a lot of pressure because of yesterday's quali. Usually I don't feel so lucky with number one but today was really good.

"We usually say that if you win the quali you cannot win the race. I'm really happy I broke the spell. So, yeah, best day."

On the photo finish, Deromedis said: "It was really tight actually. I didn't feel him coming so I was almost relaxing and then I saw with the corner of my eye he was coming, so I stretched out. I wasn't sure at all that I had won, but then I was really happy when I saw the photo finish."

Wilmsmann said: "It was a really nice race and it feels really good to be straight on the podium, having a good first race. It gives me good confidence."

Drury said his podium place felt all the better as he wasn't sure he would have even been in Val Thorens this week.

"It feels incredible," he said. "It was touch-and-go there this summer. The shoulder felt pretty good but the knee was still pretty sore and I didn't know whether I would keep skiing or not.

"The knee is feeling really good right now, and I was hoping that I could ski like I used to if my body felt good, and clearly it went OK. I'm beyond happy."

Switzerland’s Tobias Baur won the small final ahead of hometown hero Melvin Tchiknavorian, with Tim Hronek of Germany and Sweden's Erik Mobaerg finishing seventh and eighth.

Mobaerg's brother, reigning Crystal Globe winner David Mobaerg, did not make it past the quarter-final stage after being beaten by some impressive racing from Tchiknavorian and Drury earlier in the day.

The Ski Cross World Cup continues with day two of Val Thorens kicking off at 12.30pm CET on Friday 13 December.