Evan Bichon and Meryeta O’Dine share the same Prince George hometown and on Friday they both ended up with the same World Cup ranking after their race on the slopes of St. Moritz, Switzerland.
Bichon, 25, finished 14th after crossing the line fourth in his quarter-final heat. He needed a top-three finish to move on to the semifinals in the 63-entrant men’s event.
On Thursday, Bichon posted the sixth-quickest qualifying run, matching a career best since he started racing World Cup events in December 2016.
O’Dine also placed fourth in her quater0final heat Friday, after qualifying 14th, her order of finish in the women’s event, which drew 26 entrants. The 27-year-old Olympic medalist in 2022 needed a top-two heat result to advance to semis.
Bichon and O’Dine and the rest of the Canadian team in Switzerland still had cause to celebrate. Eliot Grondin of Ste-Marie-de-Beauce, Que., won the men’s race Friday. After topping the qualifying list, Grondin won all four of his heats Friday to clinch gold.
Colby Graham of Prince George finished 51st.
The next World Cup snowboard cross event is in the Caucasus mountain range in Gudauri, Georgia, Feb. 2-4.
