Dylan Moriarity won the first race of his ice cross downhill career on Saturday with a high-speed victory at the final Riders Cup race of the year in Sherbrooke, QC, Canada, while Kyle Croxall, in second place, and his brother, Scott, in third, made it an all-Canada sweep of the podium. Scott Croxall, who saw his three-race winning streak snapped in Sherbrooke, is also still in the driver's seat for the overall Ice Cross Downhill World Championship going into next Saturday's season finale of the world's fastest sport on skates in Edmonton, AB.
Racing down the 420-metre-long, high-speed track carved into a hill at the Mont Bellevue recreation park in the centre of Sherbrooke, Moriarity was unstoppable through the earlier knockout rounds, where the fastest two skaters in each four-man heat advanced. After getting the first podium of his career with second place at the last Red Bull Crashed Ice race in Belfast, Northern Ireland, two weeks ago, Moriarity's confidence only grew stronger at home in Canada and he was delighted to be on top and put an end to Scott Croxall's winning streak in convincing fashion down the unusually wide track – which was nine metres wide at the start, and seven metres wide at the finish.
"It's my first win and it feels unreal," said Moriarity, 20, whose victory came in only his 10th race. "I'm so happy winning it at home." Kyle Croxall, who led the world championship earlier in the season before being eclipsed by his younger brother, Scott, on the European leg, was also content: "I'm happy for this Canadian podium," he said. Scott Croxall added: "It's great to have a Riders Cup in Canada. It was a great race and I hope it will come back to Quebec next year. The fans are amazing here."
There were a total of 202 men taking part in the Riders Cup race, including 27 international athletes. Switzerland's Derek Wedge, the 2013 world champion, posted the fastest qualifying time on the spectacular track with its starting area enjoying a fantastic view of the city, stopping the clock in 32.9 seconds. There were also 24 women competing in their own separate event, which was won by Jeanne Chouinard, with Tamara Kajah taking second and Jaqueline Legere in third place.
In the four Riders Cup events, a new competition created this year "by riders for riders" to help broaden the accessibility of ice cross downhill, athletes were able to earn 25 percent as many points in the Ice Cross Downhill World Championship as in the four major Red Bull Crashed Ice races. Moriarity won 250 points for his victory on Saturday, while the winner at next week's Red Bull Crashed Ice event in Edmonton will be awarded 1,000 points.
Results Men
1. Dylan Moriarity
2: Kyle Croxall
3: Scott Croxall
4: Paavo Klintrup
Results Women
1: Jeanne Chouinard
2: Tamara Kajah
3: Jaqueline Légère
4: Sabrina Vallée-Perron