Bischofswiesen/Goetschen, Germany – Canada’s Tristan Tafel won his first career ski cross World Cup race in Bischofswiesen/Goetschen, Germany, on Saturday, while American John Teller finished just behind Tafel in second. Canadian Chris Del Bosco finished third to close the gap on teammate Brady Leman in the race for the Crystal Globe and complete Saturday’s all-North American men’s podium sweep.
Tafel, of Canmore, Alberta, needed some luck to make it through a wild semifinal but he made it look easy in the final as he led from start to finish to claim what was also his first career World Cup podium. The 21-year-old is in his first full season on the World Cup circuit after winning the Nor-Am Cup title last year. His previous best World Cup result was a ninth-place finish in Innichen/San Candido, Italy, on Dec. 18, 2011.
“I’m still in shock,” said Tafel, who turned 22 on Sunday. “I was really happy with my starts but in the final I just kept thinking, ‘I’m going to get some contact at this turn or this jump,’ and it never happened. As I turned the corner going into the finish I was like, ‘Holy cow, I’m in the lead and I might just win my first World Cup.’
“I just want to thank my team for helping me out this season. It’s their win, really. I’ve gotten so many tips from all of my teammates,” added Tafel, a former alpine skier who was part of the national development team.
Saturday’s race marked the first World Cup podium result of the season for Teller, who won a race in St. Johann, Austria in January 2011. He’s now had three World Cup podium finishes in 30 starts.
Del Bosco, of Montreal, Quebec, kept the heat on his good buddy, fellow Canadian Brady Leman – the overall ski cross World Cup leader – with his third World Cup podium of the season. Leman, of Calgary, Alberta – who was 19th Saturday after getting tangled up in the first heat – leads the way with 343 points. Switzerland’s Alex Fiva – who was 18th Saturday – sits second in the standings with 332 points and Del Bosco is third with 314. Del Bosco has been the runner-up for the ski cross title for the past three years but Canada has never won an individual ski cross Crystal Globe.
On the women’s side, Austrian Andrea Limbacher won Saturday’s ski cross, followed by France’s Ophelie David and Alizee Baron in third. Canada’s lone entrant, Marielle Thompson, finished in 20th. No American women raced.
OFFICIAL RESULTS
FIS Ski Cross World Cup
Bischofswiesen-Goetschen, Germany – Feb. 25, 2012
Ski Cross
Men:
| Rank | Bib | Name | Year | Nation | Points |
| 1 | 28 | TAFEL Tristan | 1990 | CAN | 1000.00 |
| 2 | 6 | TELLER John | 1983 | USA | 800.00 |
| 3 | 3 | DELBOSCO Christopher | 1982 | CAN | 600.00 |
| 4 | 8 | MIAILLIER Sylvain | 1986 | FRA | 500.00 |
| 5 | 20 | SCHMID Michael | 1984 | SUI | 450.00 |
| 6 | 9 | KRAUS Tomas | 1974 | CZE | 400.00 |
| 7 | 10 | PELLINEN Jouni | 1983 | FIN | 360.00 |
| 8 | 23 | CASTELLAZ Diego | 1985 | ITA | 320.00 |
| 9 | 2 | CHAPUIS Jean Frederic | 1989 | FRA | 290.00 |
| 10 | 11 | STICKL Simon | 1987 | GER | 260.00 |
Women:
| Rank | Bib | Name | Year | Nation | Points |
| 1 | 3 | LIMBACHER Andrea | 1989 | AUT | 1000.00 |
| 2 | 1 | DAVID Ophelie | 1976 | FRA | 800.00 |
| 3 | 2 | BARON Alizee | 1992 | FRA | 600.00 |
| 4 | 4 | BERNTSEN Hedda | 1976 | NOR | 500.00 |
| 5 | 5 | OFNER Katrin | 1990 | AUT | 450.00 |
| 6 | 10 | MILLET GOUCHOE Jessica | 1990 | FRA | 400.00 |
| 7 | 6 | BERGER SABBATEL Marielle | 1990 | FRA | 360.00 |
| 8 | 8 | MANHARD Christina | 1990 | GER | 320.00 |
| 9 | 9 | WOERNER Anna | 1989 | GER | 290.00 |
| 10 | 13 | SMIRNOVA Sofia | 1988 | RUS | 260.00 |