Canada's Brady Leman changes tactics to earn ski cross silver

Calgary's Brady Leman finished second in Saturday's men's World Cup ski cross race in Val Thorens, France.

Leman, who finished third in the overall standings last season, ended up behind Switzerland's Alex Fiva in the race's big final.

Sweden's Viktor Andersson was third.

Saturday's result allowed Leman to put a disappointing result in Friday's season-opening race behind him. Leman, who struggled to an early exit Friday, made some adjustments to get him back on the podium.

"We watched video, changed tactics and changed the focus on the start," Leman said.

Tactics were key in the season opening races in Val Thorens, which has recently undergone a course overhaul.

"It's a little more technical in terms of a couple more turns, a little bit less of a highway," Leman said. "It used to be a drag race here and then one big turn at the bottom.

"It's a fun track. It's difficult. You need to use tactics and ski hard the whole way down."

Leman's podium finish was Canada's second over the two days of racing in Val Thorens. Marielle Thompson of Whistler, B.C., won yesterday's women's race.

In other results Saturday, Kelsey Serwa of Kelowna, B.C., just missed a medal, finishing fourth in the women's big final.

Anna Holmlund beat out fellow Swede Sandra Naeslund for first place, while Germany's Daniela Maier finished third.

Dave Duncan of London, Ont. finished sixth in Saturday's men's race.

Thompson was fifth and Georgia Simmerling of West Vancouver, B.C., was ninth in the women's race.