Canada's Brady Leman on the podium in Telluride SX, Teller 7th
Brady Leman secured Canada’s first podium of the Ski Cross World Cup season, placing second in a photo finish at the end of a thrilling men’s final in Telluride, Colo., Thursday. The 26-year-old from Calgary, Alta., who was the fastest man in qualifying on Wednesday, was dominant in the early rounds.
Winning by less than a ski length, however, was Slovenia’s Filip Flisar with the fastest race of the final round. Switzerland’s Armin Niederer, who was edged out in the final moments by Leman, completed the podium.
“I felt like I was skiing well and skiing fast today,” said Leman, who was sixth in Nakiska. “It’s where I want to be in every race – in the final and fighting for gold. … It was pretty much a three-way photo-finish for first, second and third. It was tight racing the whole way down.”
The top American was John Teller, who fell short of the final round, finishing seventh. Dave Duncan, of London, Ont., was unlucky to be disqualified in one of his runs to finish the day ninth.
On the women’s side, reigning world champion Kelsey Serwa, of Kelowna, B.C., was fourth in the final, and her teammate Marielle Thompson, of Whistler, B.C., finished eighth. Switzerland’s Fanny Smith, France’s Ophelia David and Sweden’s Anna Molmlund comprised the ladies’ podium.
For the full story, check out the next addition of Ski Racing Magazine.
Men’s Top 8 — Skier Cross World Cup Telluride
1. FLISAR Filip, SLO
2. LEMAN Brady, CAN
3. NIEDERER Armin, SUI
4. CHAPUIS Jean Frederic, FRA
5. PELLINEN Jouni, FIN
6. FIVA Alex, SUI
7. TELLER John, USA
8. JUELL Didrik Bastian, NOR
Women’s Top 8 — Skier Cross World Cup Telluride
1. SMITH Fanny, SUI
2. DAVID Ophelie, FRA
3. HOLMLUND Anna, SWE
4. SERWA Kelsey, CAN
5. HOEIE GJEFSEN Marte, NOR
6. CREMA Katya, AUS
7. JENSEN Julie Brendengen, NOR
8. THOMPSON Marielle, CAN