Howden and Naeslund looking to lift Crystal Globe in Craigleith

Craigleith has always been a special venue to Reece Howden (CAN). He likes “the intensity of the racing on this course” and it is the site of his World Cup victories in 2023 and 2025.

Craigleith will hold an even greater significance to Howden if the World Cup leader wins the Crystal Globe on home snow this weekend. The 27-year-old will win his fourth Crystal Globe with a victory and a top-finish, or two second-place finishes.

In 2025, he won the first race then finished second to Florian Wilmsmann (GER), who is out for the rest of the 2026 season. He also won the opening race in 2023 before settling for ninth the next day.

Only Simone Deromedis (ITA) and Youri Duplessis-Kergomard (FRA) have a mathematical chance of winning this season’s Crystal Globe. Deromedis is on 596 points, 247 points adrift of Howden, while Duplessis-Kergomard, fourth behind Wilmsmann, is on 448 points. The Frenchman will be out of contention once Howden earns over five more points.

Howden is aiming to join Tomas Kraus (CZE) as the joint-winner of the most Crystal Globes and become the first male athlete to win back-to-back Crystal Globes since Jean Frederic Chapuis (FRA) won titles from 2015-2017.

In horse parlance, there will be no shortage of thoroughbreds in the Canadian resort. But even the world’s finest are mindful of how challenging it will be to overtake Howden.

“Everybody knows what’s left, but also everybody knows how difficult it is in this situation,” Olympic champion Deromedis said. “If nothing extraordinary happens, I mean, it’s for sure difficult. Reece is being super consistent, he’s won what, seven races already? It’s a tough one, I feel a little bit like (Henrik) Kristoffersen (NOR) back in the day. I don’t know if that’s a good or a bad thing.”

Howden has won six races, while women’s World Cup leader Sandra Naeslund (SWE) has won eight. Naeslund will secure her fifth Crystal Globe if she wins both races this weekend.

Daniela Maier (GER) would need to earn 166 more points than the 29-year-old in the remaining four races to win her first Crystal Globe. Marielle Berger Sabbatel (FRA) is the only other competitor who can catch Naeslund but will be out of the running if the Swede earns over 55 more points.

Berger Sabbatel said: “Two good results should be good for this weekend but I guess (I’m) already out of pressure. We have to be honest. But anyway, I want to have two good races and just to show myself in front position.”

Berger Sabbatel won a race here in 2023 and had a second-place finish in 2025. Maier’s best finish in Craigleith is seventh.

“I don’t know how Canada will be,” said Maier. “Last year, I had struggles with my knee so I couldn’t be 100%. Now I’m just excited for the track. It’s going to be very difficult for me now. Sandra is incredibly strong and consistent. It’s going to be difficult but I will never give up, keep fighting, and trying to challenge her.” 

Naeslund admitted that she has yet to work out the permutations but knows the best approach to take.

“I guess two victories here would be the safest option,” she said with a smile. “But I try not to focus to much on the points and more about my skiing.

“Looking forward to finally try the course here in Craigleith. Hopefully I can show some good skiing. (From) what I have seen earlier, it looks like a course that can fit my skiing pretty good.”

With the season finale at Gallivare, Naeslund could win the Crystal Globe in front of her home fans. But she could be forgiven for wanting to get the job done in Craigleith.