Bischofswiesen/Goetschen, Germany – Canada extended its podium streak to a perfect eight straight ski cross World Cup races on Sunday as Dave Duncan finished second behind Slovenia’s Filip Flisar and Marielle Thompson was third in a women’s race won by Switzerland’s Katrin Mueller in Bischofswiesen/Goetschen, Germany.

Another battling performance from the reigning Nations’ Cup champions saw the Canadians grab two top-three finishes for the second successive day and take the team’s podium total for the 2011-12 World Cup season to 16. In addition to leading the Nations’ Cup ski cross standings once again, Thompson and Canadians Brady Leman and Chris Del Bosco are all in the mix for a Crystal Globe as individual ski cross World Cup champions.

Duncan, of London,Ontario, recorded his second podium of the season in difficult conditions on Sunday, while Thompson, of Whistler, British Columbia, bounced back from the disappointment of not qualifying Friday to secure her fourth top-three finish of the year.

“I’m happy to be back on the podium,” said Thompson, who recorded her first career World Cup victory in Blue Mountain, Ontario, on Feb. 3. “It was pretty rough out there today. It was a battle.”

Thompson, who was 12^th in qualification on Sunday morning, finished second in her quarter-final and led her semifinal from start to finish to make it into the final four. With Switzerland’s Katrin Mueller racing out to an early lead in the final, Thompson was sitting second until French veteran Ophelie David powered past her on a turn to take silver. Austria’s Andrea Limbacher finished fourth. No American women raced.

With three races to go, Ophelie now leads the overall ski cross World Cup standings with 420 points. Thompson is second (390) and Swiss star Sanna Luedi is third (389).

“It’s good for Marielle to shake off what happened on Friday and get back in there today and get back on the podium,” said Eric Archer, head coach of the Canadian team. “We’ve got three races left and if we can keep that two-podium average going … it’s been a pretty good season.”

Duncan, who was third in Innichen/San Candido, Italy, on Dec. 17, found his way back to the podium after finishing second in the round of 32 and then winning his quarter-final and semifinal heats. In the final, Flisar got out to an early lead and held on to win gold. Duncan and France’s Jean Frederic Chapuis were shoulder to shoulder through the first turn but Duncan pushed through to take the silver medal. Switzerland’s Alex Fiva was fourth.

“It was not an easy day,” Duncan said. “My starts were the only thing that kept me alive today. The course doesn’t really suit my talents, so to speak.

“I’m definitely happy with where I am at (this season). The story that’s developing is I either make it to the final or end up in the fence.”

America’s Joe Swensson was the top U.S. finisher in 22nd. Mammoth Mountain, Calif.’s John Teller, who finished on Saturday’s podium ended up in a disappointing 41st place on Sunday.

The ski cross racers will now head to Branas, Sweden, for men’s and women’s World Cup races on March 3. The final two races of the 2011-12 World Cup season will be held on March 10 and 11 in Grindelwald, Switzerland.

OFFICIAL RESULTS
FIS Ski Cross World Cup
Bischofswiesen/Goetschen, Germany – Feb. 26, 2012

Men:

Women: