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Canadian ski cross star Reece Howden golden at World Cup event in
Switzerland

   Justin Piercy
   | CBC Sports | Posted: January 24, 2026 3:13 PM | Last Updated:
   21 hours ago

   Fellow Canadian Marielle Thompson claims bronze in women's big
   final

   Image | 2207090068

   Caption: Canada's Reece Howden, shown in this file photo, raced
   to a World Cup ski cross gold medal on Saturday in Veysonnaz,
   Switzerland. (File/Getty Images)
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   A day after having a gold medal slip through his fingers,
   Canada's Reece Howden didn't let this one get away.
   The Cultus Lake, B.C., native held off a late challenge from
   Germany's Thomas Hronek to win a World Cup ski cross big final
   on Saturday in Veysonnaz, Switzerland.
   Melvin Tchiknavorian of France rounded out the podium in
   bronze-medal position.
     * Canada's Howden claims silver at World Cup ski cross event
       in Switzerland

   Howden, 27, was pipped at the line in Friday's big final and he
   said after Saturday's race that was something that was on his
   mind.
   "I totally emptied the tank today. I felt like yesterday, you
   know... maybe, lost a little bit of focus in that bottom
   section, and I wasn't gonna let that happen today," Howden
   said.
   WATCH | Howden returns to the top of the podium in Veysonnaz:

   Media Video |

   Caption: After a silver medal performance Friday, Reece Howden
   of Cultus Lake, B.C. won Saturday's World Cup ski cross race in
   Veysonnaz, Switzerland.
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   pages.
   The win was Howden's 22nd career World Cup victory and helped
   the Canadian widen his overall lead in this season's tour
   standings. His 533 points is 223 ahead of his next closest
   competitor, Italy's Simone Deromeidis.
   Next up for Howden is next weekend's World Cup stop in Val di
   Fassa, Italy, which is the last event before the Milano-Cortina
   Olympic Games. The Canadian said he's not planning on taking
   his foot off the figurative gas pedal ahead of the Winter
   Games.
   "I think the biggest mistake people can do is try to save
   something for the Games. You know, the best thing you can do
   for the Games is come in hauling," Howden said. "Keep skiing
   fast, and stay there, and that's the plan. I'm not one for
   saving something. It is not the kind of sport we have. If
   you're on top, try your best to stay there...it's a lot easier
   to stay in the mix, then try to take it easy, then ramp it up
   for race day.
   "So I'm just gonna try and stay on the high and ride it right
   into the Olympics."
   WATCH | Thompson returns to the podium in Veysonnaz:

   Media Video |

   Caption: In a photo finish for second place, Whistler, B.C.'s
   Marielle Thompson settled for a World Cup ski cross bronze
   medal Saturday in Veysonnaz, Switzerland.
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   pages.
   In the women's big final, Canada's Marielle Thompson climbed
   the World Cup podium for the first time this season. The
   Whistler, B.C., native won a bronze medal as she continues her
   return to form after suffering a torn knee ligament at the tail
   end of last season.
   The 2014 Olympic champion was joined on the podium by gold
   medallist Daniela Maier of Germany and Sonia Gigler of Austria,
   who took silver.

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