Canadians look to ride momentum into ski cross world championships

The top Canadian ski cross athletes are set to chase the podium at the freestyle ski world championships in St. Moritz, Switzerland this week. 

The FIS snowboard, freestyle and freeski world championships, which began Wednesday and run through to Sunday, March 30 includes the ski cross events. The ski cross athletes begin their competition on Thursday, with the finals set for Saturday and Sunday. The competition will be live streamed on CBC Sports, and also available on CBC Gem.

Two-time Crystal Globe winner Reece Howden of Cultus Lake, B.C. currently sits in second place in the overall standings and is set to compete along with Toronto veteran Kevin Drury, who sits in sixth overall.

Other members of the Canadian men's team include Jared Schmidt, ranked 14th overall, and Gavin Rowell who sits in 24th. 

WATCH | Canadian athletes ready for worlds: 

'I feel like I'm going to throw up': Canada's ski cross athletes share thoughts from the start gate

On the women's side, the Canadians are consistently finding success on the slopes this season — and Abby McEwen, Courtney Hoffos, and India Sherret, are hoping to keep the momentum going.

Heading into the world championships, Sherret is in second place in the World Cup overall standings, and Hoffos sits in seventh place, followed by McEwen in eighth.

At the Craigleith Ski Club stop, the final leg of the circuit ahead of world championships, two Canadian women made it onto the podium: Hoffos placed second, and McEwen took third. 

Sherret finished fifth overall after taking the top spot in the small final.

WATCH: Sherret has momentum on her side:

India Sherret is on fire heading into the final World Cup stop of the season

Both the men and women will compete in the qualifying