Race for women's Crystal Globe taking shape ahead of Bakuriani

As the FIS Ski Cross World Cup heads for Bakuriani with more than half of the season behind us, there's almost nothing separating the top three chasers of the women’s Crystal Globe in Hannah Schmidt, Marielle Thompson and Marielle Berger Sabbatel.

Overall leader Schmidt won her first ever World Cup in Arosa in December, and went on to win both home races in Nakiska. But she could never quite shake off France’s Berger Sabbatel, who has stayed with her throughout the season.

Berger Sabbatel has only missed one big final in her campaign thus far; a disqualification in St. Moritz meaning she picked up no points in Switzerland. If not for that stutter, she may well have been the overall leader, but as it is she is 25 points behind Canadian Schmidt.

However, Thompson is even closer. Having started her season with just one big final appearance in the first five races, the Canadian was off the pace initially. Ahead of the home races in Nakiska in January, she said she felt her skiing was “in a better place” than her results up to that point had suggested.

"My season so far has been good but I've definitely been wanting more and I feel like my skiing is in a better place than the small final,” she said in January.

"Going into the new year, I'm taking those positives and trying to have some confidence going into the Nakiska races."

Thompson went on to finish second on day one and won the small final on day two in Nakiska, and went one better by winning her first race of the season in St. Moritz. The Canadian then did the same in the most recent race in Alleghe, having won the small final the day before.

In all it means Thompson is just three points behind Schmidt, and is peaking at just the right time in the season as her results start to match her form.

"I'm really happy with how I'm skiing right now," Thompson said after her victory in Alleghe. "I'm feeling good and ready for the rest of the season with lots of confidence."

In fourth place is Brittany Phelan, who has seen her consistency rewarded with three podium places across the season. Phelan has certainly benefited from skiing alongside some of the pacesetters in the women's section, and will be hoping she can continue her ascent when racing gets underway at the next stop in Bakuriani on February 10 and 11.

"I haven't been there before. I've been injured so I missed World Champs last year, so I'm really excited to go to a new track," Phelan said. "It looks like a big course and they've used the hill quite well. I'm pretty excited for the newness of it."

With the athletes in fifth and sixth, Sandra Naeslund and Fanny Smith, both currently recovering from injuries, could we see Schmidt, Thompson and Berger Sabbatel put more distance between themselves and those chasing them? And if so, will the pedigree of Schmidt, the consistency of Berger Sabbatel or the form of Thompson potentially deliver victory in Georgia?

Women's standings

• 1. Hannah Schmidt (615)

• 2. Marielle Thompson (612)

• 3. Marielle Berger Sabbatel (590)

• 4. Brittany Phelan (474)

• 5. Fanny Smith (424)

• 6. Sandra Naeslund (406)

Howden leading the charge

The men’s section has been a bit more of a slow burner. Jared Schmidt was the man to catch for most of the first half of the season, but consistent small and big final appearances from Reece Howden – who won races in Nakiska and Alleghe – has seen Howden take the overall lead from his compatriot.

"I knew that I needed to get a great result to further my lead in the overall and I just knew I had to be dominant coming out of the start and focus on myself,” the defending Crystal Globe winner said after his most recent win on Sunday.

"I'm just stoked to be on top again and stoked to see the good results coming from the team.”

Howden is on 476 points; 65 points ahead of Switzerland’s Alex Fiva in second place. Fiva’s return from injury meant it was a cautious start to the season for the 38-year-old, but he has shone in 2024, appearing in four out of the last five big finals on his way to three podium finishes.

Schmidt is in third place on 388 points, closely followed by Terence Tchiknavorian who is 21 points behind him.

Florian Wilmsmann is still within touching distance in fifth, as are Youri Duplessis Kergomard and Erik Mobaerg - the latter winning his first World Cup race in Alleghe last week.

While the men’s section hasn’t been quite as close as the women’s, that will likely give Howden even more incentive to win in Bakuriani and keep distance between himself and those trying to overhaul him.

However, he’ll have his work cut out for him if he’s to do it. Bakuriani hosted the World Championships in February last year, and though Howden made it to the big final, he was beaten by Wilmsmann and Mobaerg as well as eventual winner Simone Deromedis.

It all means we can expect plenty of drama on the course and in the standings when the skiers take on the course in Bakuriani on Saturday and Sunday this week (10 and 11 February).

Men's standings

• 1. Reece Howden (476)

• 2. Alex Fiva (411)

• 3. Jared Schmidt (388)

• 4. Terence Tchiknavorian (367)

• 5. Florian Wilmsmann (349)

• 6. Youri Duplessis Kergomard (347)