A BC athlete takes the podium at the end of the Red Bull season Super Skicross racing on Saturday.
In Andermatt, Switzerland, Reece Howden won in photo finishes, narrowly outperforming two European competitors.
Howden calls Cultus Lake his home and skiing at the Apex Mountain Resort near Penticton. He is also the World Cup skicross champion.
In Saturday’s final, a stunning video by Red Bull shows Howden, competing in black, stretching across the finish line to beat Jean-Frederic Chapuis of France and Marc Bischofberger of Switzerland.
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Howden trailed Chapuis for most of the short races on innovative skicross tracks of one kilometer, but always at very close range.
As the finish line draws near, the four skiers must cross an obstacle – two large blocks of snow cut at a 45 degree angle. Dubbed the ‘Cheese Wedge,’ competitors have the option of skiing between two giant blocks or skiing down 45 degree slopes.
Chapuis went past, but stumbled slightly after exiting the downhill section, while Howden took up one of the 45 degree slopes.
With extra speed, Howen then closed the gap and spread his wings at the finish line. Chapuis also stretched, but lost to Howden.
Jonas Lenherr from Switzerland is fourth.
In the women’s final, it was Europe’s last four, with Sweden’s Sandra Naeslund beating Switzerland’s Fanny Smith, plus Marielle Berger Sabatell and Alizee Baron, both of France.
Reece Howden, left and Sandra Naeslund gathered for photos on Saturday after winning their respective skicross races on Saturday.
Source: Red Bull Media House GmbH
Of the 16 men who took part, Reece was the only Canadian and the only one from North America.
The women’s portion featured only seven women, all from Europe.
For the related Red Bull snowboarding event taking place in BC, earlier this month, Click here.

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