Canada's Marielle Thompson wins ski cross gold in Switzerland

Canadians Marielle Thompson, India Sherret, and Reece Howden raced onto the podium at a World Cup ski cross event in Veysonnaz, Switzerland, on Saturday.

Thompson, of Whistler, B.C., beat Germany's Daniela Maier to top the podium in Switzerland.

"Feels good to win today. I liked the course and the flow of the track. Looking forward to tomorrow and cleaning up a few small mistakes in the final," Thompson said. "I know I have a bit more speed out of the start and into the first turn."

Sherret of Cranbrook, B.C., won bronze, and fellow Canadian Courtney Hoffos of Windermere, B.C., placed fourth.

Thompson, the reigning Crystal Globe champion, earned her 34th World Cup win and 71st career podium.

WATCH | Thompson wins gold, Sherret takes bronze:

Canadians Marielle Thompson and India Sherret win ski cross gold and bronze in Switzerland

3 days ago

Duration 6:21

Marielle Thompson of Whistler, B.C., won gold, India Sherret of Cranbrook, B.C. won bronze, and Courtney Hoffos of Windermere, B.C., finished in fourth place in the women's big final, at the FIS ski cross World Cup event in Veysonnaz, Switzerland.

Sherret reached her 10th career podium and fifth this season. She remains this season's leader in the World Cup standings with 545 points. Maier is second with 504 points and Thompson is third with 481.

"Overall, I'm quite happy with how today went. I did make some mistakes in the final that definitely cost me, so I feel like I kind of snuck in there for third place today," Sherret said.

"Leading the standings is neat; I know Marielle and Daniela are gunning for it, so I do feel a bit of pressure there. But there is so much skiing left in the season that I can't think about it too much.

"I just want to keep executing race after race, and hopefully, that should pay off in the long run."

On the men's side, Howden took bronze in Veysonnaz in a photo finish for his third podium finish of the season.

Howden, who hails from Cultus Lake, B.C., just beat Japan's Ryo Sugai across the finish line and took the final place on the men's podium. The two-time Crystal Globe winner has 356 points for fourth place in the overall World Cup standings.

Italy's Simone Deromedis won gold, while French skier Youri Duplessis Kergomard took silver.

Toronto's Kevin Drury finished eighth.

Action continues on Sunday from Switzerland and live streaming begins on CBCSports.ca and CBC Gem at 7 a.m. ET. Click here for more details from the CBC Sports broadcast schedule.

WATCH | Howden claims ski cross bronze in Switzerland:

B.C.'s Reece Howden claims ski cross bronze in Switzerland

3 days ago

Duration 5:30

Reece Howden of Cultus Lake, B.C., finished in third place in the men's big final at the FIS ski cross World Cup stop in Veysonnaz, Switzerland.