SKI CROSS:

Del Bosco leads X Games charge as Canadians nab 5 of 6 medals

Jan. 24, 2010         ►Photo: Ski cross action earlier this season; below, Chris Del Bosco (chrisdelbosco.com)

ASPEN, Colorado — Canadians roared to five of six podium positions Sunday in ski cross at the Winter X Games, with Chris Del Bosco earning gold to highlight an impressive men’s sweep.

In the six-racer final, Del Bosco led from the start, and teammates Dave Duncan and Brady Leman took silver and bronze, respectively. Canadian Davey Barr was fifth. The finish marked the first time a nation other than the U.S. has swept the ski cross podium at X Games.

“This is the one missing piece,” Del Bosco said. “I don’t know how many years, four or five years, I just haven’t been able to get it done here. Today is amazing.

“Josh Wiltz is the man, my ski tech. He’s been with me a couple of years know and I owe it to him. We’re a good team, this course suits me, it’s got good jumps, lots of rhythm, you have to be really smooth here. I’m also one of the bigger guys, and that helps.”

Ophelie David of France became the first athlete to record four straight gold medals in any event at the Winter X Games, winning the women’s ski cross Sunday ahead of three Canadians.

The 33-year-old French veteran — one of three mothers competing at Winter X — was able to slingshot off a jump and overtake Canadian Ashleigh McIvor midway down the course. McIvor closed the gap but was edged by David at the finish line.

McIvor took silver and teammate Kelsey Serwa bronze. Aleisha Cline of Canada also qualified for the final, taking fifth.

"It's so amazing because when I started, I was in fourth," explained an exhausted David at the finish. "I knew it would be quite tough to pass them, but I absorbed the jumps really well and it worked. I'm so super, super happy."

"This was an awesome course, built with big features and great takeoffs and landings similar to what we'll see in Cypress. I've got some serious confidence right now and I feel like I'm skiing better than I ever have" said McIvor. "It's good to know that I'm competitive out of the start with the top women in the sport. Sure I was a little disappointed I wasn't able to hold the lead in the final, but if it's going to happen then let it be one of the best competitors in ski cross.”

Quebec-born, Vail, Colorado-raised Del Bosco won his first Winter X Games. The 220-pound Del Bosco led from the start, but Duncan was hot on his ski tails through the middle of the course on the jump section. Nevertheless, Del Bosco never lost the lead, taking aggressive lines through the banked turns.

"We came in here really strong and managed to get four into the final and swept the podium," said an elated Del Bosco. "I felt him [Duncan] a bit, but when you're in front like that, you just got to keep your head down and go."

The sweep could be a precursor to the Vancouver Winter Olympics, as three men — Del Bosco, Duncan and Stan Hayer — hope to continue the podium sweep trend. "This is so huge heading into the Olympics in our home country," remarked Del Bosco, a product of Team Canada's massive effort to score a gold medal in Vancouver. "We got three guys on the podium here, so hopefully we can do the same there."

For Leman, he couldn't have been happier to have a dynamic course that challenges all the athletes.

"There is a lot of respect for the riders here," Leman said. "The course is really challenging, which is great. Everyone is really supportive and the race was really clean."

"Leman has shown tremendous grit in the last couple of races, and as a result has posted his career-best results. Those early courses really hurt his recovery but he's making up for lost time now," said Eric Archer, Canadian head coach.

Archer added, “This has been the best training camp ever. The athletes got a ton of time on a course that in many ways will look like Cypress. The track was demanding at one minute and 30 seconds long. It was a great way to end off a long stretch on the road, now it's home for a little recuperation, the athletes are peaking at the perfect time and we are ready for Vancouver."

In men's quarterfinal action, U.S. Olympic freestyle skier Daron Rahlves wrecked and injured his hip, requiring a sled transport to the bottom of the hill. He was taken to a local hospital.

The 36-year-old Rahlves qualified for his fourth Olympic team this year and was using the X Games as a final tuneup before the trip to Vancouver.

In his opening race Sunday, though, he lost his balance while going over a series of small bumps midway down the mountain and went flying off the course. The initial report was that he had feeling in all his extremities but his right hip was hurting.

Earlier in the week, America's other Olympian in ski cross, Casey Puckett, landed awkwardly during a run and suffered what he called a minor setback in his recovery from a separated shoulder.  SRC

— The Canadian Press, Canada Ski Cross, U.S. Ski Team, espn.com contributed to this report