Reece Howden of Chilliwack, British Columbia won the gold medal on Thursday in a World Cup men’s ski cross event in Montafon, Austria. For Howden, it was his eighth podium finish of the season and sixth victory.
Howden beat silver medalist Simone Deromedis of Italy and bronze medalist Alex Fiva of Switzerland to the finish line in the big final. Deromedis won the gold medal in men’s ski cross at the 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Milan/Cortina d’Ampezzo. Fiva won the silver medal in men’s ski cross at the 2022 Olympic Winter Games in Beijing and the bronze medal at the 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Milan/Cortina d’Ampezzo.
In Montafon on Thursday, Howden won every heat. He placed first in the first elimination heat, the first quarterfinal and first semifinal.
Howden’s other five victories this season came in Arosa, Switzerland on December 16, in Innichen, Italy on December 20 and December 21, in Veysonnaz, Switzerland on January 24, and in Kopaonik, Serbia on February 28. In Howden’s career, he has now won 24 World Cup men’s ski cross gold medals and 38 World Cup men’s ski cross medals overall.
In the World Cup men’s ski cross season, Howden is the leader with 843 points. Deromedis is in second with 596 points. There are four more World Cup men’s ski cross races left. Two are in Craigleth, Ontario, Canada on March 21 and March 22. The last two World Cup men’s ski cross races are in Gallivare, Sweden on March 28 and March 29. The World Cup gold medal for Howden will give him confidence as he prepares for the 2030 Olympic Winter Games in the French Alps.
