Canadian freestyle skier Cassie Sharpe secured a bronze medal at the World Championships in the women’s halfpipe event in Silvaplana, Switzerland. This marked Sharpe’s return to the podium after her last appearance in 2019. The 32-year-old athlete from Comox, B.C., achieved a score of 88.00, surpassing her compatriot Rachael Karker (86.25) to claim third place on the final day of the FIS Snowboard, Freestyle, and Freeski World Championships.
Zoe Atkin from Great Britain clinched the gold medal with 93.50 points, earning her first-ever world title. China’s Li Fanghui finished ahead of Sharpe, securing the silver medal with a score of 93.00. Dillan Glennie from Courtenay, B.C., placed 11th, while Amy Fraser from Calgary finished in 12th position.
Sharpe, an Olympic gold medalist in 2018 and silver medalist in 2022, made a remarkable comeback to the sport in September after taking a two-season break following the birth of her daughter, Louella, in 2023. She had previously won silver in the event at the world championships in 2015 and 2019.
In the men’s halfpipe event, Calgary’s Brendan MacKay was the top-performing Canadian, finishing in seventh place. The same venue also hosted the aerials world championships, where Alexandre Duchaine from Quebec City narrowly missed the podium, achieving the best result for a Canadian in the men’s event. On the women’s side, Marion Thenault from Sherbrooke, Que., finished in fifth place.
Sharpe, Karker, Fraser, and Glennie are all ranked within the top 10 in the world in women’s freeski halfpipe, showcasing Canada’s strong presence in the sport.
