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The Canadian Ski Cross Team began the World Cup season in France the way they ended the last, by winning five podiums. In the first weekend of World Cup competition and on the first stop of the Cross Alps Tour, Canadians Kevin Drury of Toronto, ON and Kris Mahler of Canmore, AB each won a gold, Courtney Hoffos of Windermere, BC won a silver and a bronze and India Sherret of Cranbrook, BC had a bronze medal finish.
On the first day of racing Drury handily won his quarter-final and semi-final heats to advance to the final, where he came from behind to finish strong. It is Drury’s second career World Cup win.
“It was a great day. I had my plan, came through together. On the last turn I executed and came out in first, it feels pretty amazing” explained Drury.
The weekend was especially exciting for Hoffos and Mahler as neither had been on the World Cup podium before. Mahler, who is returning from injury felt that the win was the culmination of hard world off the snow.
“After two long years of rehab and too many sick days I can’t even believe it. That’s one way to come back that’s for sure. I stayed focused and we found some lines that were working” he said.
Hoffos (above) could not have been more excited about her weekend. As she explained, “It was super fun. I had no expectations coming into this race. Going one heat at a time. You get a lot of confidence skiing with all my friends.”
Sherret who tied her personal best finish on the World Cup circuit was excited about opening the season with such a strong result.
“I am super stoked with how the first race of the season went. I’m super pumped with how I’m skiing” Sherret said.
The Canadian team looks to keep the confidence high and skis fast as the Cross Alps Tour continues into Montafon, Austria this week.
