VAL THORENS, FRANCE – Canmore's Kris Mahler was on top of the world cup podium for ski cross on Saturday morning (Dec. 7) after winning the international sporting competition.
Mahler was faster than France's Bastien Midol and Jean Frederic Chapuis, who were second and third. He was sixth the day before (Dec. 6) in the race, held in Val Thorens, France, while fellow teammate Kevin Drury was first.
Mahler's best world cup result before this weekend's winning race was in 2016 with a seventh place finish in Montafon, Austria. Mahler has worked hard to overcome a shoulder injury from a 2017 race in Italy.
“After two long years of rehab and too many sick days I can’t even believe it," he said in an Alpine Canada press release. "That’s one way to come back that’s for sure. I stayed focused and we found some lines that were working.
“The number one thing I learned after being injured is it’s not big gains you make every day, it’s the little ones, you keep moving forward.”
Banff's Zack Belczyck finished 27th overall in the race.
