Canada's Ski Cross team ends season by winning the Nations Cup

The final race of the Audi FIS Ski Cross World Cup season was cancelled today in Megeve, France due to weather conditions consisting of persistent, heavy snow.

This meant the FIS was forced to add up the points each athlete and team had acquired over the season—without the final race.

Unfortunately, due to persistent heavy snow here in @megeve the jury has been forced to cancel today's Audi FIS Ski Cross World Cup competition. pic.twitter.com/9pgVDAUjRt

— FISfreestyle (@FISfreestyle) March 17, 2018

"It wasn't quite the finale we were hoping for at the Audi FIS Ski Cross World Cup finals in Megeve," tweeted FIS. "But it was another great season with deserving athletes taking the top awards."

In the end, Canada scored the most points for the third year in a row, and claimed gold in the ski cross 2018 Nations Cup.

Canada was just six points ahead of the Swiss team, a tight margin that could have played out differently had there been a race today. Canada's win is mainly thanks to Brittany Phelan and Kevin Drury who placed third overall in the women's and men's category.

Arrived in Megéve, France! Ready to rock for the last WC race of the season! Training tomorrow and race on Saturday. Let’s hope the weather holds off 🤞🏻 • • #skicross #polarassetmanagementpartners @elanskis @blizeyewear @nordicaski #teambliz #France #Megeve

A post shared by Kevin Drury (@drury.kc) on Mar 15, 2018 at 12:51pm PDT

“Last season was a really good season for our team and the Nations Cup was kind of expected. But this season it felt like we weren’t great. The ladies’ were fantastic, but the guys battled and struggled a bit - and the Swiss seemed super strong all season," said Stanely Hayer, head coach of the Canadian team to FIS.

Canada's Brittany Phelan came in third overall with 489 points and three podiums this year, including back-to-back second-place finishes in Russia. She also earned a silver medal at the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics. Named Rookie of the Year in 2017, a year ago today, the 26-year-old broke her pelvis.

1 year ago to the day, I broke my pelvis at the World Championships. Today I stood on the podium, finishing 3rd in the World Cup overall for the 2017-2018 season. This year has validated everything I’ve worked for my whole life, and I’m excited to keep doing the sport I love and chasing my new dreams. Thank you all for the support this season, and for the belief. Next stop Canada 🇨🇦🙏🏻. #alwaysgoodtimes @elanskis @julianabicycles @descente_international @levelgloves @leki.ski.outdoor @monttremblant @clubdeskimonttremblant @alpinecanada @teamcanada @canadaskicross @canfund @fisfreestyle 📷

A post shared by Brittany Phelan (@brittanyphelan) on Mar 17, 2018 at 2:50pm PDT

"1 year ago to the day, I broke my pelvis at the World Championships. Today I stood on the podium, finishing 3rd in the World Cup overall for the 2017-2018 season," said Phelan in an Instagram post. "This year has validated everything I’ve worked for my whole life, and I’m excited to keep doing the sport I love and chasing my new dreams. Thank you all for the support this season, and for the belief. Next stop Canada."

I’ve dreamt about this moment my whole life, wanting it more then anything. What a special feeling for it to no longer be a dream, but something real. #AlwaysGoodTimes @elanskis @julianabicycles @cafesainthenri @canfund @monttremblant @pocsports @leki.ski.outdoor @levelgloves @descente_international @alpinecanada @canadaskicross @teamcanada @pyeongchang2018 @olympics @cbcolympics @gregkolz 👌🏻📷

A post shared by Brittany Phelan (@brittanyphelan) on Mar 9, 2018 at 6:31am PST

"Really, thanks to Britt (Phelan) and Kevin (Drury) and their seasons from Nakiska on, that’s the only reason we won this," said Coach Hayer. "We kinda hung in there for the first half of the season, but then those two stepped up with a bunch of podiums in the last few races and put us over the top.”

In the end, Sandra Naeslund of Sweden had gauranteed two trophies before even showing up in Megeve. She took home both the ski cross and the Freestyle overall crystal globes for 2017/18.

A bit of a bittersweet end to the 2017/18 Audi FIS Ski Cross World Cup season today, with heavy snow forcing the cancellation of the season finale in @megeve_officiel. However, the winners of the season awards brightened the day, as @sandranaeslund and @marc_bischofberger received the ski cross crystal globes, Naeslund took the Freestyle overall title, @india_sherret and @erikmobarg won Rookie of the Year accolades, and @canadaskicross took the Nations Cup! Congrats to all @coupedumondeskimegeve! 🎿🏆🏅 #skicross #megeve #fisfreestyle #trophies 📸 @gepapictures / @oliverlerch2444

A post shared by FIS Freestyle Skiing World Cup (@fisfreestyle) on Mar 17, 2018 at 8:31am PDT

During the season, Naeslund won seven races and reached the podium nine out of 10 events. She finished with 870 points, 300 more points than her nearest rival.

Switzerland’s Fanny Smith placed second in the 2017/18 season with 539 points. This is the fifth time in six seasons she's finished in the top three.

Smith also earned a bronze medal at PyeongChang 2018.

What a amazing end of the season. I won the skicross overall globe🔮Thanks to everyone who made this happen. Congrats @sandranaeslund for winning the big @fisfreestyle globe. @appenzellerbier @baerlibiber @on_running @head_rebels @poc.switzerland @komperdell_official @schweizersporthilfe @swissskicrossteam #iconoutdoor #armeesuisse #taminatherme #medizinischeszentrumbadragaz #biskifanatics 📸 @gepapictures / @oliverlerch2444

A post shared by Marc Bischofberger (@marc_bischofberger) on Mar 17, 2018 at 9:04am PDT

In the men's finale, Canada's Kevin Drury placed third overall, Jean Frederic Chapuis of France placed second, and Marc Bischofberger of Switzerland placed first. Bischofberger arrived at the Megeve competion with an ACL strain. Rumours had been circulating that he was going to pull out of the gate and finish with a DNF.

In the end, he finished with 462 points, earning the ski cross globe , as well as a silver at the PyeongChang Winter Olympics.

It's only been a few weeks since Kelowna's Kelsey Serwa won gold in the freestyle ski cross event at the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics. However, she was unable to make the podium in the World Cup circuit this year. Yesterday, Serwa posted a picture stating she was resting up for today's race as she'd caught the flu. Unfortunately, she was unable to give the course one final run of the season.

World Cup finals goes down tomorrow. I had a little flu this morning so took the day to recover, which is never an easy decision to make. I’m feeling all good now and am ready to go full gas 🤘🏼 • • • @elanskis • @skibigwhite • @entpartners • @hudsonsbay • @TLaneNation • @sportchek • @blizeyewear • @soloenergybar • @barefootvenus • @onegirlcansociety • @lululemon

A post shared by Kelsey Serwa (@kelseyserwa) on Mar 16, 2018 at 2:01pm PDT

Still, she finished in the top 10, ranked seventh overall with 344 points. Fellow Canadian, Georgia Simmerling finished in sixth overall with 373 points.

Super proud to be a part of this amazing team that took home the Nations cup this year! Also very excited to be named 2017/2018 Rookie Of The Year! Congrats team 😊 @alpinecanada @canadaskicross #skicross #rookieoftheyear

A post shared by India Sherret (@india_sherret) on Mar 17, 2018 at 9:33am PDT

In a vote by team captains, it was decided that Canada's India Sherret and Sweden's Erik Moebarg were named the 2017-2018 Rookies of the Year. Sherret was not in Megeve due to an injury.