Kelowna skier in Austria for ski cross world championship

KELOWNA – Having recovered from an injury, Kelowna’s Ian Deans finds himself with a chance to get back on the World Cup ski cross circuit.

Deans is representing Canada as an alternate on Canada’s ski cross team at the 2015 FIS Freestyle Ski and Snowboard World Championship getting underway today, Jan. 15, in Kreischberg, Austria, according to a media release from Alpine Canada.

The Big White racer and the UBC Okanagan kinesiology student spent his first full season on the World Cup circuit in 2012 and 2013 on the men’s prospect team and placed 14th at a race in Telluride, US before he was sidelined by an injury.

The Canadian men’s ski cross team also includes Brady Leman who is ranked eighth in the world cup standings.

Olympic champions Marielle Thompson and Georgia Simmerling, who are ranked first and second overall, lead the women’s team.

The Freestyle Ski and Snowboard World Championship run until Jan. 25.

Infront Sports and Media is live streaming the event.

Canada’s Full Roster:
Women
Georgia Simmerling – Vancouver, B.C.
Marielle Thompson – Whistler, B.C.

Men
Brady Leman – Calgary, Alta.
Chris Del Bosco – Montreal, Que.
David Duncan – London, Ont.
Louis-Pierre Helie – Berthierville, Que.
Alternate: Ian Deans – Kelowna, B.C.