James Crawford of Canada celebrates his downhill skiing victory in Kitzbühel, Austria, on Saturday, January 25, while teammate Cameron Alexander, who finished third, joins him on the podium. (Photo: Christian Bruna/Getty Images)
Alpine Skiing: Canada’s Stars Look to Shine Again
Canadian skiers Jack Crawford and Cam Alexander made history last weekend in Austria’s Kitzbühel downhill, with Crawford claiming the country’s first win in 42 years and Alexander securing bronze. Their celebration followed a long-standing tradition of Canadian skiers marking victories with enthusiastic celebrations.
Now, they set their sights on the World Cup downhill event in Germany this Sunday, the last major race before the alpine world championships begin in Austria on Tuesday. Crawford will defend his super-G title from the 2023 championships in France, where Alexander also earned a downhill bronze.
On the women’s side, American skier Mikaela Shiffrin made her return to competition after recovering from a serious leg injury. She placed 10th in the slalom in France, a step toward regaining her top form ahead of the upcoming world championships.
Freestyle Skiing: Kingsbury Back in Action
Mikaël Kingsbury, Canada’s moguls legend, is back in Quebec for two major World Cup events at Val Saint-Côme. The Olympic gold medallist and eight-time world champion will compete in the men’s moguls on Friday and the dual moguls on Saturday.
Kingsbury dominated in last week’s event in New Hampshire, taking his season tally to four victories in six races. He now holds 94 World Cup wins, the most in history. Meanwhile, Canada’s Maia Schwinghammer, currently ranked third in the women’s moguls standings, aims to add another medal after placing fourth in both events last week.
Canada’s ski cross racers are also in action this weekend in Switzerland. India Sherret and Olympic gold medallist Marielle Thompson hold top spots in the women’s standings, while Reece Howden and Kevin Drury are among the best in the men’s competition.
In the U.S., Winter X Games competitors remain in Aspen for World Cup events. Cassie Sharpe, the 2018 Olympic ski halfpipe champion, is making her comeback after a two-year break. Fresh off an X Games victory, she looks to build momentum for the season ahead.
Speed Skating: All Eyes on Jordan Stolz
Canadian speed skaters had a quieter showing last week, earning only one medal at the World Cup in Calgary—a gold in the women’s team sprint event. The competition now moves to Milwaukee, where 20-year-old American sensation Jordan Stolz has dominated the circuit, winning 11 gold medals this season. He is expected to be a major contender for Olympic glory in 2024.
More Sports to Watch This Weekend
Canadian golfer Brooke Henderson is competing in the LPGA’s Tournament of Champions in Florida, aiming for another win after her 2023 victory at the same event. On the PGA Tour, top-ranked Canadian golfers, including Nick Taylor and Corey Conners, are playing in Pebble Beach’s high-stakes tournament.
Meanwhile, Canada’s Audrey Leduc is set to race in the 60m sprint at Boston’s New Balance Indoor Grand Prix. American sprinter Noah Lyles, fresh from his Olympic 100m gold win, will compete in the men’s event.
In tennis, Canada faces Hungary in the Davis Cup this weekend. With key players Felix Auger-Aliassime and Denis Shapovalov absent, younger talents like Gabriel Diallo and Alexis Galarneau will lead Canada’s challenge.
