Machl and Von Moos take titles at Ski Cross FIS Junior World Championships

The course was set in St. Moritz for the 2026 Ski Cross FIS Junior World Championships. It was the men’s and women’s individual races on the program. 

Coming out on top for the men was Sebastian Machl (GER), while Chiara Von Moos (SUI) won in front of the home crowd on the women’s side. 

Machl takes the gold

Machl adds a gold and world title after winning the big final. The German improved upon his third place at the 2025 junior ski cross world championships. He was the third-fastest in qualifying, but fastest when it mattered most in a thrilling big final.

Coming up just short in second was Edgar Baillet (FRA). He makes the podium after a sixth-place in 2025. 

Rounding out the podium was the fastest-qualifier Niklas Hoeller (GER). It was a strong showing for the German men. Maans Abersten (SWE) was fourth in the big final. 

Noe Mari (FRA) did not advance after a competitive semifinal. He went on to win the small final, ending in fifth overall. Paolo Piccolo (ITA), Duncan Cowan (AUT), and Max Wizeman (GER) followed him in the small final. 

The early stages of the men’s races were calmer as the drama built up in the later rounds. The top 16 fastest qualifiers all advanced through the first heats to the quarterfinals, with seven of the top 8 moving on to the semifinals. 

The action picked up in the quarterfinal round. Noa Galliano (SUI) was 12th in 2025 and the fourth-fastest qualifier this year. He unfortunately suffered a DNF in the quarters alongside Andrea Balducci (ITA). 

Janik Somerer (AUT) qualified ninth but did not advance past the quarterfinals. He improved upon his 22nd place finish from the 2025 junior world championships.

Home snow kind to Von Moos

On the women’s side Chiara Von Moos (SUI) went wire-to-wire. The Swiss skier was the fastest in qualifying and won all of her heats on the way to the gold after crossing first in the big final. 

Von Moos enjoyed the home crowd of Swiss fans. She redeems herself after a fifth-place at the junior world championships last year.

It was a tough big final as Von Moos crossed in front of her teammate Valentine Lagger (SUI). Lagger makes the podium after just missing in fourth place in 2025. 

Roxy Coatesworth (CAN) backed up her impressive qualifying performance with a third-place finish. It was almost an all-Swiss podium as Leena Thommen (SUI) was fourth, improving upon her seventh-place in 2025. 

Morgan Shute (USA) settled for fifth after winning the small final. Shute was one of the favorites after finishing third last season and third in qualifying this year. 

Alexandra Nilsson (SWE), Jessica Svenja Klein (SUI), and Dakota Turner (AUT) followed Shute in the small final. 

Three of the top five in qualifying advanced from the semifinals to the big final. 

The quarterfinals went mostly as planned with the fastest qualifiers advancing. Eva Hoecht (GER), who qualified eighth, was the only top seed to not advance to the semis. 

Earlier on, the fastest qualifiers also cruised through the first round. However, Fourth-fastest qualifier Leonie Lussnig (AUT) did not start. Sweden’s Liza Thomasdotter (SWE) suffered a DNF after qualifying with the tenth quickest time on Thursday. 

The men and women will celebrate their titles before jumping back on their skis on Saturday for the mixed team event. One pair will claim a junior world championship title. 

Check HERE for the full results.