Canada’s Reece Howden wins gold at World Cup ski cross event in Italy [Video]

Canada’s Reece Howden raced to a gold-medal victory on Saturday at the ski cross World Cup stop in Innichen, Italy.

The Cultus Lake, B.C., native was the lone Canadian to make it to the finals and held off silver medallist Alex Fiva, of Switzerland, to be the first to cross the finish line.

“I was just happy to be able to make some corrections for today and ski cleaner, for the most part, and just send it,” Howden said. “Last race before Christmas, there’s no reason leaving anything in the tank.”

The course that had hardened overnight suited Howden.

“This was the classic Innichen with nice hard, fast snow and multiple racing lines,” he said. “This cross-Alps tour to start the season is a lot of racing in a short period of time and we couldn’t do it without the amazing support we have.”

Italy’s Simone Deromedis rounded out the men’s podium, taking bronze.

It’s Howden’s second win …