Solid U.S. Ski Cross Results at Val Thorens

VAL THORENS, France (Dec. 11, 2015) – Ski cross athletes face a challenging course on the Audi FIS Ski Cross World Cup tour this weekend, competing in back-to-back competitions Friday and Saturday.

Americans fared well in the first of two World Cups Friday with Tania Prymak (Goshen, NY) finishing 16th in the women’s race, and Brant Crossan (Steamboat Springs, CO) taking 22nd and Tyler Wallasch (Mammoth Lakes, CA) 24th among the men.  

The ladies final saw four of the top ski cross athletes take to the start gate - Anna Holmlund and Sandra Naeslung of Sweden, Marielle Thompson of Canada and Ophelie David of France. When Thompson crashed over the first jump after she and Holmlund tangled, Holmlund was able to stay on her skis and chase down Naeslund, her younger teammate. She had a well-timed pass in the negative turn that allowed her to cruise to the finish and her 15th World Cup skicross win. Naeslund was second and French legend David joined them on the podium in third.

For the men it was Chris Delbosco of Canada, Filip Flisar of Slovenia and Canadian Brady Leman battling it out in the final. Delbosco had been dominating competition all day on Friday, but he had to work for it in the final. Flisar caught Delbosco towards the middle of the course, pressuring him from behind. It came down to the final jump, where the strong Canadian was able to edge Flisar for the win.

“I’m really happy with how I skied tactically,” Delbosco said. “I had really good starts…and to be back on the podium with Brady is great.”

Flisar finished a close second to Delbosco and Leman rounded out the podium in third.

The second race of the Val Thorens event will take place at 13:00 CET on Saturday.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Tania Prymak finished 16th in the women’s race, the only American woman to participate.
• Americans Brant Crossan was 22nd and Tyler Wallasch 24th among the men.
• Anna Holmlund added another World Cup win to her impressive resume and, in doing so, earned the red bib as the current World Cup leader.
• Friday’s win was Delbosco’s second in as many races after he topped the podium at last week’s race in Montafon, Austria.

RESULTS
Women’s Ski Cross Results
Men’s Ski Cross Results