Both ski cross events were won by members of the Schmidt family on Tuesday at the World Cup in Arosa, Switzerland. Hannah Schmidt scored the first victory of her career on the circuit, while her brother Jared won for the second time in a row.
Weather conditions forced some changes to the schedule initially planned in Arosa. Thus, the only finals were played in a mixture of rain and snow on Tuesday evening. The women’s qualifications were canceled and the skiers went directly into the elimination bracket.
Hannah Schmidt finished second in her quarterfinal heat, then was fastest in the semifinals. She then beat her compatriot Marielle Thompson and the Swede Sandra Naeslund, who missed an individual super final for the first time since February 2020.
Once she reached the grand final, Schmidt saw her rivals go off the track right in front of her in a turn. She managed to avoid the fall and continue her journey, heading straight for the gold medal.
“Jared’s win really motivated me last week. I was determined to prove to myself that I could reach the top of the podium and I am very happy to have achieved it. I had a bit of luck in the final, but this race is so fast, it’s really a sprint and I was in the mix today [mardi] », We can read in a press release from Alpine Canada.
The 29-year-old skier won the second World Cup medal of her career. She won silver in Val Thorens last season.
After the officials’ review, silver medals were finally awarded to the three other finalists, France’s Marielle Berger Sabbatel, Canada’s Marielle Thompson and Austria’s Christina Foedermayr.
Brittany Phelan took 4e rank of the small final on Tuesday.
Two in a row for Jared Schmidt
Jared Schmidt saw his older sister triumph during her preparation for the men’s grand final and he wanted to imitate her, less than a week after winning gold in Val Thorens.
“I saw his victory and it gave me a little more energy! It’s nice for the Schmidts to win one after the other. What party ! What a race! It’s wonderful, it’s a dream! » he shared at the FIS microphone.
Schmidt overtook at the start of the race and was in the lead when a collision occurred between Swede Erik Mobaerg and German Tobias Mueller. They still remained on their skis and reached the finish.
Meanwhile, Schmidt protected his lead until the very end and climbed to the top of the podium again. This is the fourth World Cup medal of his career, his second gold.
“I gained confidence after my victory in Val Thorens. We show up here a few days later and I feel great, I had a great start,” added Jared Schmidt after his performance. He will have won each of his five races on Tuesday.
This second consecutive victory allows him to increase his lead in the general classification of the World Cup with a total of 212 points. The Austrian Tristan Takats is his closest pursuer at 126 points.
Canadian Reece Howden, winner of the crystal globe last year, won silver, while Erik Mobaerg received bronze.
The next Ski Cross World Cup will take place next week in Innichen, Italy.