Record-breaking Smith heads to Feldberg with big Ski Cross World Cup lead

Fanny Smith has a 207-point lead in the Ski Cross World Cup ©Getty Images

Overall leader Fanny Smith heads into the next stage of the International Ski Federation (FIS) Ski Cross World Cup with the burden of history out of the way, having won a record 27th race last time out.

Smith now has sole possession at the top of the all-time Ski Cross World Cup wins list, and will be favoured to extend that lead in Feldberg in Germany.

The Swiss skier, who won a bronze medal at the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympics and was the world champion in 2013, has won four of the last six women's World Cup races.

Qualifying is now scheduled to take place on the same day as racing, with back-to-back sets of races on Saturday and Sunday (January 30 and 31).

With five top-three finishes so far this season, Canada's Marielle Thompson - the Sochi 2014 champion - is Smith's closest challenger in the World Cup standings, but still trails by 207 points.

If it hasn't quite sunk in yet, here is just a friendly reminder of @fannysmith setting a new world record for most ski cross World Cup victories for men and women. 27 that is.
Fanny, we salute you! ?#fisfreestyle #skicrossworldcup #mostvictories #breakingtherecord #goat pic.twitter.com/uhc3AddRWh
— FISfreestyle (@FISfreestyle) January 25, 2021

Smith and Thompson are both past crystal globe winners.

Canada's Reece Howden, a Lillehammer 2016 Youth Olympic Games champion, leads the men's standings as the circuit arrives in Germany.

Howden has won three of the last four races to hold a 129-point lead over Ryan Regez of Switzerland.

Following the Feldberg races, there will be just one more World Cup event - in Bakuriani in Georgia - before the FIS Cross World Championships in Swedish resort Idre Fjäll, where Smith secured her 27th World Cup win.