Canadians win ski cross World Cup openers

MONTAFON, Austria (AP) Christopher Del Bosco and Marielle Thompson won the ski cross World Cup opening races to give Canada a strong start to the season on Saturday.

Del Bosco beat Brady Leman in the men's final for a Canadian 1-2 finish. It was Del Bosco's eighth career win but first in nearly two years. World champion Filip Flisar of Slovenia placed third.

In the women's final, Olympic champion Thompson defeated Anna Helmlund of Sweden, Katrin Ofner of Austria, and Anna Woerner of Germany for her 10th victory.

It was Thompson's first race since injuring her knee at the world championships in Austria in January.

World champion Andrea Limbacher of Austria lost balance and slid off the course in the quarterfinals but was unhurt.

The ski cross World Cup continues in Val Thorens, France, on Thursday.