Canada’s Reece Howden bounced back from a near-miss gold medal to secure victory in the World Cup ski cross big final in Veysonnaz, Switzerland. The skier from Cultus Lake, B.C., fended off Germany’s Thomas Hronek in a close race, with Melvin Tchiknavorian of France finishing in third place on the podium.
After narrowly missing out on a win the previous day, Howden expressed determination and focus in Saturday’s race. This victory marked his 22nd career World Cup win and extended his lead in the season’s standings. With the next event in Val di Fassa, Italy, Howden emphasized the importance of maintaining momentum and peak performance leading up to the Milano-Cortina Olympic Games.
Meanwhile, in the women’s competition, Canada’s Marielle Thompson claimed a bronze medal, her first podium finish of the season. The Whistler, B.C., native showed resilience in her return to form following a knee injury last season. She was joined by Daniela Maier of Germany, who won gold, and Sonia Gigler of Austria, who secured silver on the podium.