The final World Cup race of the 2012-'13 snowboardcross season ended on a positive note for Squamish's Ma毛lle Ricker.
Ricker placed third in Sierra Nevada, Spain on Thursday (March 21) to cap a season in which she placed fourth in the overall World Cup standings.
She was 13th after the first day of competition on March 20 but then bounced back to finish on the podium. Ricker finished the season with a total of 2,960 points, 210 behind third-place finisher Michela Moioli of Italy.
Ricker's teammate Dominique Maltais finished first in Sierra Nevada to cap a dominant season. Maltais placed first in the overall snowboardcross standings and was a force throughout the season.
"I stayed focused, run after run, trying to go faster and to improve myself. Not focusing on a particular things was the key of success today," Maltais said in a statement. "Yes, the Games are a major event in a career of an athlete, but what I accomplished this seasons, I'm as proud as if I had an Olympic medal around my neck."
Ricker wasn't the only Squamish-based female competing on the slopes overseas as Mikayla Martin placed seventh at the Trofeo Topolino U16 giant slalom event in Italy on March 9. Martin was competing against 79 of the best young female skiers from all across the globe.
Martin followed that with a first-place finish in the U16 giant slalom at the Provincial Championships in Rossland on Friday (March 22). She also snagged a fourth-place finish in the slalom event on Sunday (March 24).
For complete results from the provincials, visit www.bcalpine.com.
