Local skicross racer claims silver
HE’S GOT LONGER ARMS THAN I HAVE. SECOND IS COOL . . . BUT YOU WANT TO WIN
BRADY LEMAN ON GETTING EDGED BY ALEX FIVA FOR GOLD
Calgary’s Brady Leman came within inches of his second gold medal in three World Cup ski cross races Saturday in St. Johann, Austria.
The 25-year-old Leman, who returned to competitive racing last month after breaking his leg three times, lost a photo finish to Switzerland’s Alex Fiva to claim the silver medal in the men’s final.
“He’s got longer arms than I have,” Leman joked in a conference call following the race. “Second is cool and everything, but you want to win.’’
Winning the silver medal did enable Leman to regain the red bib as the overall ski cross World Cup leader. He has 184 points, two ahead of Fiva.
“Having the red bib again is sweet — it was cool to have it after the first race,” Leman said. “I like this thing so I want to hold on to it.”
Leman earned his first career World Cup win in the season opener in Innichen/ San Candido, Italy, on Dec. 17. He was 27th in the second race on Dec. 18.
“It was rough racing out there,” said Leman, who was second in his first heat Saturday and went on to win his quarter-final and semifinal. “Conditions were tough and I knew it was going to be a battle out there.’’
Germany’s daniel bohnacker was third, while Austria’s Patrick Koller finished fourth.
World champion Chris Del Bosco of Montreal fell at the line in his semifinal and also fell in the small final when another racer caught his trailing ski as he moved into the lead. He finished seventh overall, while Tristan Tafel of Canmore, Alta., was 15th and Stan Rey of Whistler, B.C., 19th.
On the women’s side, Whistler, B.C.’S Marielle Thompson fell in the small final and finished eighth.
“I’m feeling fine. I kind of got hooked up going into the first (section) and ended up on my bum,” said Thompson, who claimed her first career World Cup podium with a third-place finish in the season opener in Innichen-san Candido.
“I could definitely be happier, but I’m glad I made the small final.”
World champion Kelsey Serwa of Kelowna, B.C., was eliminated in her quarter-final heat when she got tangled up with another racer and hit the deck. She finished 10th.
French veteran Ophelie David won the final, with Germany’s Anna Woerner taking silver and Alizee Baron of France bronze.
Serwa retains the red bib as the overall World Cup leader with 226 points.
Next up are men’s and women’s World Cup races in Alpe d’huez, France, on Jan. 11.