Mackenzie native Evan Bichon was on his game Friday to start the World Cup snowboard cross season in Cervinia, Italy.
The 26-year-old was second-quickest in the second qualifying run of the day and placed 22nd overall to make it into the top 32 who will race on Saturday.
Bichon finished the course in 40.54 and will race in the sixth heat of the eighth-final round Saturday. His heat also includes Guillaume Herpin and Achille Leleu, both of France, and Italian Lorenzo Sommariva.
Bichon finished the 2023-24 season ranked 23rd in the world and headed into the new season ranked 19th overall in the FIS standings.
Defending Crystal Globe champion Eliot Grondin of Sainte Marie de Beauce, Que., posted the second fastest qualifying time (39.65), just behind Austrian Jacob Dusek (39.56).
Grondin and Bichon are the only Canadians to qualify for Saturday’s race.
Prince George native Tess Critchlow, 29, a two-time Olympian who grew up in Kelowna, was the lone Canadian to crack the top-16 in women’s qualifying Friday.
Critchlow was 16th-quickest (45.31) and will advance to Saturday’s race.
Lea Casta of France (43.92) set the pace in women’s qualifying.
Two-time Olympic bronze medalist Meryeta O’Dine of Prince George, 27, was 23rd in her first qualifying run and did not finish her second run.
Other Canadian results were as follows: Women – Audrey McMainiman, Sainte Ambrose de Kildare, Que. (18th, 45.55), Rose Savard-Ferguson, Quebec City (32nd, 48.43); Men – Liam Moffatt, Truro, N.S. (49th, 41.69), Jacob Lebel, Sainte Marie de Beauce Que. (69th, 43.48).
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