Canadian Maltais wins snowboard title

Canadian Dominique Maltais captured the Crystal Globe award Thursday, given to the season's best female snowboard cross rider.

The 29-year-old from Petite-Rivière Saint-François, Que., secured the World Cup overall title after finishing fourth at a race in Arosa, Switzerland. Maltais finished with 4,800 total points with one race remaining, while Bulgaria's Alexandra Jekova — Thursday's winner — was second with 3,200 points.

American Lindsey Jacobellis stands third at 2810 points.

"I am very happy. It’s a pretty important trophy to go and win," said Maltais. "The Globe is always my objective at the beginning of a season. About 10 minutes after the race, my coach came and told me the globe was mine, and that’s when I realized it. I will be able to sleep tight tonight and focus on my race [Friday].

"I was not very nervous as I only needed a Top 15 to secure the Globe. Throughout my career, my results were always good, so I wasn’t too preoccupied. That being said, my qualifications yesterday did not go well, so I was a bit more nervous today for that reason. I had some good training with the guys on the team, and it gave me a boost of confidence before the race. From heat to heat throughout the race, everything went really well and as the race was unfolding, I felt better and better."

Maltais, a 2006 Olympic bronze medallist, has won three World Cup events this season and reached the podium four times. She also earned a bronze at the 2011 FIS world championships.

She last won the Crystal Globe back in 2006. In 2010, Olympic gold medallist Maëlle Ricker of West Vancouver, B.C., won the award.