(Val Thorens, France) Jared Schmidt won a gold medal while Quebecer Brittany Phelan got her hands on a silver charm at the Ski Cross World Cup in Val Thorens, in the French Alps.
Schmidt crossed the finish line in second place, but was promoted to the top step of the podium after Frenchman Youri Duplessis Kergomard was disqualified for contact. Swede David Mobärg took silver, while Austrian Johannes Rohrweck completed the podium.
This is Schmidt’s first-ever World Cup victory.
Reece Howden competed in the small final and finished sixth overall. Kevin Drury (11th), Kristofor Mahler (15th) and Carson Cook (25th) were also in the running. The other Canadian to start, Gavin Rowell, did not complete his qualifying heat.
Among the women, Phelan, from Mont-Tremblant, finished 53 hundredths behind German Daniela Maier. Frenchwoman Marielle Berger Sabbatel won bronze.
This victory for Maier put an end to the domination of Sandra Näslund at the World Cup in Val Thorens. The Swede had won the last six stages present in this Alpine resort. She took fourth place on Friday.
British Columbian Marielle Thompson finished fifth after winning the small final. Her compatriot Hannah Schmidt finished eighth.
