Reece Howden’s record run at the Kopaonik World Cup came with a shadow: joy for Canada’s squad, and a serious crash that may have ended a teammate’s career.
On Feb. 28, 2026, Howden crossed the line first in the big final to claim his 23rd World Cup gold — the most by any man in ski cross. But the weekend’s high was tempered by what happened the day before, when veteran Kevin Drury crashed hard in the big final on Feb. 27. Drury, 37, had planned to retire after the season; the injury appears to have hastened that decision.
What unfolded on course also sparked debate. In the heat where the pileup began, Howden and Germany’s Florian Wilmsmann clipped skis while fighting for the lead. Wilmsmann went down and several riders, including Drury and Germany’s Tim Hronek, were caught in the melee and couldn’t finish. After a video review, officials controversially awarded Drury a silver despite him not crossing the line, while Howden was briefly relegated for a line deviation before the results were settled. The rulings left fans and teams asking for clearer, faster and more consistent adjudication in those chaotic, four-rider heats.
Howden made his feelings clear after reclaiming gold the next day. He dedicated the win to Drury, calling him a role model both on and off the hill and saying he was “pretty broke up” about the crash. His podium moment was as much about gratitude to a teammate and mentor as it was about another medal.
Medical teams treated the injured rider on-site and he was taken to a nearby hospital. Team officials later confirmed the injury will require a long recovery and announced the rider’s retirement from competition. Organizers have opened an inquiry and stewards are reviewing footage, steward reports and medical notes as they decide whether rule changes or sanctions are warranted.
Beyond the immediate fallout, the incident has sharpened the conversation around safety and race governance in ski cross. Multi-rider contact at speed raises hard questions about course design, protective equipment, emergency response and how referees use replay technology. Teams and federations are pushing for faster, more transparent reviews and standardized evacuation and post-career support — practical measures that could reduce both confusion and harm when incidents happen.
Results and standings
– Men’s podium (Feb. 28): Reece Howden (CAN) won, Florian Wilmsmann (GER) was second and Youri Duplessis-Kergomard (FRA) finished third. These results will affect World Cup points and could influence team selections and tactics for the rest of the season.
– Women’s highlights: Sandra Naeslund (SWE) extended her World Cup lead with back-to-back wins in Kopaonik, followed by Germany’s Daniela Maier and Switzerland’s Saskja Lack. Ottawa’s Hannah Schmidt was the top Canadian woman, winning the small final to take fifth.
Coaches and national programs have already signalled that they’ll review equipment choices, warm-up routines and on-course protocols. Expect more scenario-based crash-prevention drills in training and quicker adoption of technologies — multi-angle replay systems and sensor telemetry — that can speed up reviews and help judges reach consistent decisions.
Reactions from across the circuit were swift. Drury posted a photo of his heavily wrapped right leg with a caption that mixed disappointment and acceptance: “Not the way I wanted to end my career but I’ll take the podium.” Federations called for full reviews, and officials said preliminary findings will be released once stewards finish their work and medical teams clear their assessments.
What’s next
The Kopaonik weekend left the sport with two competing narratives: historic performances and a reminder of how fast things can change. Governing bodies now face choices — targeted tweaks to rules and equipment, or broader reforms that rethink how ski cross manages multi-rider risk. The coming weeks should clarify whether any immediate regulatory changes are coming, and which safety measures will be prioritized.
On Feb. 28, 2026, Howden crossed the line first in the big final to claim his 23rd World Cup gold — the most by any man in ski cross. But the weekend’s high was tempered by what happened the day before, when veteran Kevin Drury crashed hard in the big final on Feb. 27. Drury, 37, had planned to retire after the season; the injury appears to have hastened that decision.0