At the final race of 2026, Canadian national champion Ryder Wilson has his first World Cup win. The Vancouver Island rider smoothed out the relentless tech of Lake Placid’s World Cup track to set the fastest junior men’s time on Saturday.
It’s a huge result for Team High Country’s resident Canuck. Wilson nearly had his first World Cup podium last week in Whistler. Wilson finished fourth in his home World Cup, even after a crash in the final section of woods just a couple hundred meters from the finish line.
In Lake Placid, Wilson had one more chance to show what he could do with a clean run. He wasn’t letting the opportunity go.
“I honestly can’t believe it, I’ve been working on this for so many years,” Wilson told cameras after the race. “This morning practice was so good, i was just feeling the flow. Last year was similar, i just couldn’t quite hold it to the line”
The Canadian was looking good in his run in 2025 when Lake Placid made its World Cup debut but ended up 13th at the line. Wilson’s clearly learned from the experience.
Ryder Wilson floats off the finish line drop in Whistler
In 2026, Wilson’s been a regular in the top 10, and landed a top 5 in Loudenvielle. (and several wins at home). Last week in Whistler, he showed again he has more. With one race left as a Junior, Lake Placid was the Canadian’s last chance before moving up to elites.
“I’ve been so close most races. I’ve just been overriding it a little bit. Right before Whislter, I had an injury. I think it took a bit of time to settle back in,” Wilson said, referencing broken collarbone between Canadian Open DH in Whistler and the Whistler World Cup weekend.
“These last two races have been the best one’s yet. I’m hoping to continue moving up from off-season to next year because I’ll be in elite, racing the big dogs.”
If Wilson continues to improve the way he has through his junior career, it should be an exciting elite debut in 2027.