Given the opportunity to race World Cup ski cross event on Canadian snow, Reece Howden made the most of it.
The 26-year-old BC boy from Cultus Lake raced to his fifth World Cup win of the season Friday in Craigleith, Ont., while Kevin Drury of Toronto also grabbed a spot on the podium winning bronze.
Alex Riva of Switzerland was the silver medalist.
In other Canadian results in the 36-skier event, Kristofor Mahler of Markham. Ont., was ninth, Gavin Rowell of Prince George was 20th and World Cup rookie Nichaolas Katrusiak of Whistler was 24th.
For Rowell, 25, it was one of his best career World Cup finishes. The former Prince George Alpine Racing team member was coming off a 12th-place result March 1 in Gadauri, Georgia. Rowell qualified 10th for Friday’s race in Craigleith and was 16th-quickest in qualifying for Saturday race.
Fanny Smith of Switzerland won the women’s race Friday ahead of silver medalist Marielle Berger Sabotel of France and Job Gilli of Italy, who took bronze.
World Cup points leader India Sherritt of Cranbroook won the small final and finished fifth, just ahead of sixth-place Abby McEwen of Edmonton and eighth-place Courtney Hoffos of Invermere.
The men’s race Saturday starts at 8:30 a.m. PDT and the women get started at 8:50 a.m.
The races will be livestreamed on www.cbcsports.ca.
