Canadian ski cross racer Reece Howden secured a gold medal victory in the World Cup event in Kopaonik, Serbia, where he dedicated his win to his injured teammate, Kevin Drury. This triumph marked Howden’s 23rd World Cup gold medal, emphasizing his dominance in the sport. Despite his own achievement, Howden’s thoughts were with Drury, who sustained an injury during a crash in the previous day’s final race.
During the race, Howden inadvertently collided with Florian Wilmsmann while vying for the lead, causing Drury to crash into the fallen German skier. Although Howden was the only skier to complete the race, he was disqualified for a line deviation at the time of the incident. Consequently, Drury was awarded the silver medal without crossing the finish line.
Following the event, Howden expressed admiration for Drury, describing him as a “role model.” Drury, a 37-year-old from Toronto, indicated that Friday’s competition would likely be his final one, as he had planned to retire after the season. Drury shared an image of himself with his right leg wrapped and immobilized, stating, “Not the way I wanted to end my career but I’ll take the podium.”
Howden reflected on Drury’s influence on his career, highlighting their shared experiences on and off the slopes. He emphasized that his win was dedicated to Drury, underscoring the significance of their partnership and the lessons learned from his teammate.
In the men’s event, Wilmsmann secured the silver medal, while French skier Youri Duplessis-Kergomard claimed the bronze. On the women’s side, Sweden’s Sandra Naeslund clinched her second consecutive gold medal in Kopaonik, with Germany’s Daniela Maier and Switzerland’s Saskja Lack earning silver and bronze, respectively. Ottawa’s Hannah Schmidt achieved a commendable fifth-place finish in the small final.
The World Cup ski cross circuit continues with three more stops this season, with the next event scheduled for March 12 in Montafon, Austria.
