Hannah Schmidt will long remember her time in Val Thorens, France, where she won the first World Cup medal of her career on Friday.
After winning her first two starts in the playoffs, the Quebecer found herself in the middle of a merciless battle for second place against Germany’s Daniela Maier in the grand finale.
With a good start, the 28-year-old defended her place throughout the event, leaving her rival no leeway in the many turns of the course. Her hard work and hard work paid off at the finish line, when she narrowly edged out her opponent to take the second step of the podium.
Not far behind, British Columbia’s India Sherret had to settle for fourth place.
True to form, Sweden’s Sandra Naeslund spun alone towards the 30e victory of her career in the World Cup, a new peak in the history of the discipline, for both women and men.
It was also a second triumph in as many days for the Olympic champion, who had also celebrated at the bottom of the track at the curtain raiser of the World Cup season 24 hours earlier. Schmidt, from Mont-Tremblant, also stood out on Thursday by winning the small final to complete the top 5 of this first outing of the campaign.
Also in action on the side of France, his brother Jared Schmidt saw his career come to an end in the first round of elimination on Thursday and Friday. He finally concluded with the 22e and 27e places among men.
The men’s ranking was dominated by Austrian Mathias Graf, winner ahead of Frenchman Youri Duplessis Kergomard and Swiss Marc Bischofberger on Friday.
Note that the weather conditions forced the organizers to postpone the start of the activities for a few hours at the start of the day, after which the skiers were able to set off.
Athletes will enjoy a rest day before the next scheduled World Cup stop in Arosa, Switzerland. The qualifications will take place on Sunday and the finals on Monday.