Thompson and Howden win in Arosa as Canada's early Ski Cross dominance continues

Marielle Thompson and Reece Howden won their respective races in Arosa on Tuesday night as Canada's early dominance in the FIS Ski Cross World Cup continued.

Thompson, who claimed a 33rd World Cup of her career, finished the big final ahead of compatriots India Sherret and Hannah Schmidt, as the Canadian women swept the podium ahead of France's Marielle Berger Sabbatel.

Howden won his big final after a photo finish with Italy's Simone Deromedis, while reigning Crystal Globe winner David Mobaerg (SWE) came third and Howden's countryman Jared Schmidt finished fourth.

Canada's dominant showing in Switzerland followed equally impressive racing in Val Thorens, where Thompson and Sherret each won a race, and Sherret and Kevin Drury (2) also picked up podium places.

It means four of the six races so far this season have been won by Canadian skiers, who have also taken nine out of a possible 18 podium places.

"Its very special, the 33rd win, and to win with my two teammates on the podium as well is super special,” Thompson said.

"Last year we did it, and I led that sweep too. Hopefully we can keep this momentum going and have a super strong season for Canada."

Sherret added: "I'm super happy with how today went. I had some good starts all the way through into the finals. Marielle just made a few less mistakes than I did in the big final, and that cost me the win.

"But I'm still really, really happy with how I've been skiing. I've been a little sick this week, so honestly I'm really just stoked that I could come out here and perform today and have a good race."

Schmidt said of her team's success as well as her own: "It's absolutely amazing. To share with two other Canadians, I couldn't be happier.

"I was skiing well today, my starts were great. I'm just happy to be back on the podium after an injury from last year. I'm skiing well right now, and I'm looking to move that into Innichen."

The women's small final only effectively had two skiers in the mix as Swiss pair Fanny Smith and Saskja Lack had collided and crashed out in the semi-final.

Lack could not compete in the small final as a result, while Smith started the race as a formality to get seventh spot but pulled out almost immediately. The small final was won by Talina Gantenbein (SUI), who finished ahead of Canada's Abby McEwen.

With three races of the season now complete, Thompson leads the women's overall ahead of Sherret, Daniela Maier (GER) and Smith.

'I hope the family's watching'

Meanwhile, it was a first World Cup win of the season for Howden, who dedicated the victory to his late friend.

"The team did really well," Howden said. "Everybody was fighting really hard.

"We kind of made it a tough for us with where we were in the brackets but we optimized it and had five Canadians in the two big finals.

"It means a lot. I've been wanting to get a win going into this season. I had wanted to dedicate one of these wins to Carter Rushton from back home, one of our good friends that passed to bone cancer.

"I hope the family's watching. I really wanted to put on a show so I'm happy I was able to do that."

Florian Wilmsmann (GER) won the men's small final ahead of Ryan Regez of Switzerland, Tyler Wallasch of the United States, and Austria's Johannes Rohrweck.

Deromedis now leads the men's overall ahead of Howden and Wilmsmann, and says that will give him a boost ahead of his home race in Innichen later this week.

"For sure, going to the home race with the golden bib gives confidence," he said.

"It would really nice to do a podium there because I never done a podium there, and doing it in Italy would be really nice."

Mobaerg said: "It's been better here in Arosa for me, but I'm really happy with my skiing today. I managed to fight my way to the big final and I did my best all the way."

There is now a short turnaround to Innichen, where the skiers will take part in the two final World Cup races of the year on Friday 20 and Saturday 21 December.

Ollie Davies qualified in 6th with Scott Johns qualifying in 20th. Davies would go on to finish in 10th with Johns taking 30th, scoring his first World Cup points in only his sixth World Cup start.

Watch the winning runs from Thompson and Howden below:

Women's Winning Run

Men's Winning Run


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