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Cultus Lake’s Reece Howden ends ski-cross season with Canadian and North American titles

Howden won the championships on Alpine Canada’s home course in Nakiska, Alberta
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Reece Howden (left) flying through the air during a World Cup ski-cross race. (Alpine Canada photo)

The 2021-22 season didn’t go quite as well as Reece Howden would have hoped, but he ended on a high note.

Competing April 9-10 on his home course in Nakiska, AB, the Cultus Lake athlete captured the Red Bull SuperSkiCross championship.

The following day he earned the overall North American title.

After spending months in Europe for the World Cup circuit, and traveling to China for the Winter Olympics, Howden said it was nice to finish the season in Canada.

“It was a fun race and it was great to get back home and race with the team in front of the local crowd,” he said. “We have an amazing volunteer crew from all over Canada and they were super stoked on it and had a lot of fun. I’m happy that they came out because it wouldn’t work without them.”

RELATED: Cultus Lake’s Reece Howden ready for Olympic experience

RELATED: Cultus Lake’s Reece Howden captures coveted Crystal Globe as World Cup ski cross champ

After an electric 2020-21 season that saw Howden capture the Crystal Globe as world champ, 2021-22 was going to have trouble meeting expectations. Howden struggled with consistency though he still podiumed three times, winning a race in Reiteralm, Austria, scoring silver in Switzerland and bronze in Italy.

He placed ninth at the Olympics.

“It’s been a long pull for me this year and a tough road,” he said, following the Austrian win. “But I figured something out today and I want to remember this and keep on trucking and build the confidence back up.”

Through ups and downs, Howden said he could feel the love from his supporters in Cultus Lake, Chilliwack and the eastern Fraser Valley.

“I want to thank all of Chilliwack for such fantastic support with banners up at Chilliwack Ford, Cultus Lake Park, Sardis secondary school, Mt Waddingtons, and Fraser Financial,” he said. “Thanks to the Sardis elementary school class for their poem and flag-waving video and all my friends, family and my parents friends that came out to Dukes (Pub) to cheer me on for the Olympic race.”

“It was just so overwhelming to see pictures of everyone stoked on my SX career.”


@ProgressSports
eric.welsh@hopestandard.com

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Eric Welsh

About the Author: Eric Welsh

I joined the Chilliwack Progress in 2007, originally hired as a sports reporter.
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