Sandra Näslund Triumphs in Ski Cross Comeback After Year-Long Injury

Swedish ski cross star Sandra Näslund made a remarkable return to competitive skiing by winning the ski cross final in Val Thorens on December 11, 2025, nearly a year after a serious injury sidelined her. Näslund, 29, dominated the event from qualifying rounds through to the final, securing victory ahead of Canada's Courtney Hoffos and France's Mylene Ballet Baz.

Näslund's injury saga began during the 2023-2024 World Cup season when she sustained a knee injury followed by a fracture in her shin during qualifying at last year's World Cup premiere, also held in Val Thorens. The injury kept her out of competition for a full year as she underwent extensive rehabilitation.

In this year's return, Näslund posted the fastest qualifying time and maintained her lead, with commentator Rickard Olsson remarking that no competitor was close to matching her in the final. Demonstrating her dominance and resilience, she expressed immense joy after the race: “It feels fantastic. It has been a tough road back. There have been so many important people by my side... It feels just fantastic.”

Despite feeling nervous throughout the competition, Näslund reminded herself to enjoy the moment. Her comeback victory is also an important step toward defending her Olympic gold medal from the 2022 Beijing Games at the upcoming Winter Olympics in Italy in February 2026.

The event was not without incident; the men’s semifinal was briefly interrupted following a crash involving German skier Johannes Rohrweck, though Näslund’s performance remained the highlight of the day. The World Cup series continues with the next race, again in Val Thorens, scheduled for December 12, 2025.