SWEDEN – The two best ski cross athletes in the world almost ate Kris Mahler’s dust in a race with a lot at stake.
The Canmore skier was beaten out of a medal in the last few metres of the final ski cross World Cup of the season in Idre Fjäll, Sweden, on Sunday (March 30).
Mahler finished in fourth place, his top result this season, in his comeback year from a near career-ending injury in December 2023.
“It’s kind of a perfect way to end the season,” said Mahler, 30. “It would have been nice to have a win, it’s always nice to have a win while you’re ending a season, but in a weird way I feel like it’s the perfect ending to this one, which has definitely been a frustrating season from a results standpoint.”
Getting back on the top circuit was a major step a year after breaking his neck in a race, but the results just weren’t there for the former World Cup gold medallist.
In order to get to the big final in ski cross, athletes need to advance through three heats. Until Sunday, Mahler wasn’t able to break through the second round.
It was frustrating, he said, but finishing in fourth place was some validation that he’s on the right path.
“It’s not on the podium, so there’s still a few steps to take there, and it will light a little bit more of a fire under my butt for summer training, so that's the positive I’ll take out of that,” said Mahler.
There were big players in the big final with high stakes on the line. Canada’s Reece Howden and Italy’s Simone Deromedis were fighting over a Crystal Globe – the best overall athlete – and France’s Youri Duplessis Kergomard has been a top-five athlete all season long.
Mahler was the last piece of the big final puzzle.
The Canmore skier started fast, jumping to first place and leading for much of the Swedish course. The bottom of the run, however, had given Mahler issues all day. When the racers were approaching the finish line, it was in that moment that Howden catapulted past his teammate and into first spot and taking the other two races with him.
“Within a span of 20 metres I went from first to fourth, so that’s the unfortunate side for me but the exciting part of ski cross,” said Mahler.
Howden won gold and claimed the Crystal Globe for the 2024-25 season, the third of his career.
“It doesn’t get any more of a battle than that, me and Simone in the big final, side by side in the gate … I’m just happy I was able to hold it all together,” Howden said, in a FIS media release.
Ranked 15th in the world, Mahler said he was happy with how he raced on Sunday. With the Winter Olympics in Italy less than a year away, the Canmore skier, who was an alternate in 2022, is stoked to get on with what’s next.
“It’s been a long chapter to this point and it’s kind of like turning a new page and the start of something big, so I’m excited to see what that can become,” he said.
Ski cross nationals are this weekend (April 5-6) at Nakiska in Kananaskis Country.
