By The Canadian Press

Kevin Drury wins World Cup ski cross gold for Canada in Val Thorens

Dec 12, 2025 | 5:58 AM

VAL THORENS — Kevin Drury had tears running down his face after winning his first race in five years.

The 37-year-old from Toronto topped the podium at a men’s World Cup ski cross event Friday.

“It’s just the work that gets put in behind the scenes,” he said. “It just shows how much I care and how much I want this.”

“I can’t really ask for much more,” he added. “That was a dream. I worked really hard this summer, got in the best fitness … The body’s getting the best it has in five years, and so to see that pay off means a lot to everyone at home that’s supported me and got me here.”

Italy’s Simone Deromedis finished second, with Austria’s Tristan Takats third.

Looped In

LOOPED IN WITH NIKKI OMEN: December 11, 2025

23h ago

TWO & OUT

PETERS: With Conservatives' constant infighting, Eby may as well have super-majority

Dec 11, 2025

ONE MAN'S OPINION

COLLINS: William has taken care of it already

Dec 11, 2025

Drury, a two-time Olympian, trailed behind in fourth early in the big final before flying to first in one pass.

“I actually don’t really know what happened there,” he said. “I just knew I was in fourth, so I was going to set up that negative and try to carry as much as possible and to do that jump, and I’m guessing they all kind of made little mistakes.

“I flew past them, so a little bit of luck with ski cross, but I feel like I’m pretty good at reading the play in front of me and making the right decisions.”

Reece Howden of Cultus Lake, B.C., won the small final to place fifth overall, while Jared Schmidt of Ottawa was 13th.

The Canadian podium result followed a silver medal by Courtney Hoffos of Invermere, B.C., on Thursday.

In the women’s event Friday, Sweden’s Sandra Naeslund won her second gold in Val Thorens, with France’s Marielle Berger Sabbatel second and Switzerland’s Fanny Smith third.

Canada’s Britt Phelan, of Mont-Tremblant, Que., finished sixth, Hoffos was seventh, and Hannah Schmidt of Ottawa placed eighth.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 12, 2025.

The Canadian Press