Canadian ski cross racer Marielle Thompson secured her 35th World Cup win and 72nd career podium on Sunday in Veysonnaz, Switzerland, just a day after being photographed at the event. (Photo: Jean-Christophe Bott/Keystone via Associated Press)
For the second day in a row, Canada's Marielle Thompson dominated the women's ski cross competition, securing gold in Veysonnaz, Switzerland. The Whistler, B.C. native once again outpaced Germany's Daniela Maier on Sunday, proving her remarkable consistency on the slopes.
Swiss skier Fanny Smith delighted her home crowd by finishing third, narrowly holding off India's Sherret from Cranbrook, B.C., who had led early in the race.
Thompson’s victory was even more impressive given that she lost one of her poles right at the start gate. Despite this setback, she powered through to claim her 35th World Cup win and 72nd career podium finish. As the reigning Crystal Globe champion of the 2023-24 season, she continues to establish herself as a dominant force in the ski cross.
With a sense of humour, Thompson embraced her unexpected challenge. "Who needs a pole when you have two cowbells, right? I guess I need some cows. I already have a cattle dog," she joked after the race. The 32-year-old remains third overall in the World Cup standings with 581 points.
Reflecting on her performance, Thompson said, "I just wanted to give everything I had on the track. This course is unforgiving—if you lose speed, you're out. I gave it my all in the final, and it paid off."
Jared Schmidt Secures Third in Men’s Race
Meanwhile, Ottawa’s Jared Schmidt made a triumphant return to the podium with a third-place finish in the men's race. This marked his first podium finish since his victory in Innichen, Italy, on December 12, 2023, and his first third-place result since Arosa, Switzerland, in December 2021.
The 27-year-old was thrilled with his performance, saying, "I'm feeling great mentally right now. I didn’t overthink my skiing—it felt automatic, like my old self. I just focused on taking it heat by heat, remembering to breathe, and having fun."
Youri Duplessis Kergomard emerged as the men’s winner, edging out Sweden’s David Mobaerg for the top spot.
Canadian Team Prepares for Upcoming Races
With their recent success, the Canadian ski cross team now turns its attention to the next set of competitions. The squad will head to Val di Fassa, Italy, for races on February 8-9, followed by three more World Cup stops. Notably, they will compete on home soil in Craigleith, Ontario, from March 12-15 before heading to the world championships in Engadin, Switzerland, on March 22-23.
