VAL THORENS - Courtney Hoffos opened the World Cup ski cross season with a silver medal in Thursday’s big final.

The Windermere, B.C., racer finished second behind Sweden’s Sandra Naeslund, with France’s Mylène Ballet-Baz taking bronze.

Canada placed four skiers in the top 15, with Brittany Phelan of Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts, Que., sixth, Ottawa's Hannah Schmidt 10th and Cranbrook, B.C.’s India Sherret 13th.

Reigning overall World Cup champion Marielle Thompson of Whistler, B.C., did not race as she continues to recover from knee surgery.

On the men’s side, Italy’s Simone Deromedis won ahead of teammate Edoardo Zorzi, with France’s Youri Duplessis-Kergomard third. Toronto’s Kevin Drury was the top Canadian, finishing 13th after bowing out in the quarterfinals.

The World Cup stop in Fra

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