Fairytale day for team Canada on home soil

What an emotional last day of racing it was on Saturday’s season final race here in Craigleith, Canada, where Canadas Brady Leman claimed another victory in the final race of his incredible career on home soil and Marielle Berger Sabbatel achieved her second career win. Swede Sandra Naeslund and Canadian Reece Howden were awarded with the crystal globes as best overall athletes of the FIS Ski Cross World Cup season 2022/23.

Weather didn’t look too promising in the beginning of the day as it was snowing all morning. Snow only stopped right before the last big final women of the season started and as it wasn’t enough also the sun came out.

Berger Sabbatel prevailed in last big final of the season
Saturday’s big final women saw previous day winner Fanny Smith (SUI), Marielle Thompson (CAN), Brittany Phelan (CAN) who had her comeback race after an injury the day before and Marielle Berger Sabbatel (FRA).

As the day before also in Saturday’s race world cup leader Sandra Naeslund (SWE) wasn’t starting because of knee problems and so it looked like Fanny Smith will also win the last day of the season. She was dominating every heat all day long and so she did in the big final.

She was some meters in front of her prosecutor when suddenly she made a mistake and crashed. This opened the door for Thompson and Berger Sabbatel to finally stand on top of the podium, as this spot was dominated by Naeslund the first nine races and Smith the last two races.

Also, Thompson tried everything to win on home soil, Berger Sabbatel overtook her in the middle section and skied to her second career win. Thompson got second and Brittany Phelan was more than happy to finish third after her injury.