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Smith, Kintner outfox field at Fox Air DH

Riders overcome injuries to top podium
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Jill Kintner and Stevie Smith (centre) mark their wins in the Fox Air DH while flanked by runners-up Sam Blenkinsop and Anneke Beerten (left) and Casey Brown and Harry Heath (right). Photo by Dan Falloon

Both Fox Air DH winners were victorious after recovering from injuries.

Jill Kintner was able to extend her winning streak in the event to three, but it comes in the midst of a challenging season. The Seattle resident acknowledged she pushed a little too hard early for the Queen of Crankworx title and overextended herself in Rotorua, New Zealand, leading to a crash and lingering pain throughout the year.

After skipping the French event at Les Deux Alpes, Kintner blazed past the field with a time of four minutes, 30.30 seconds (4:30.30), six seconds up on runner-up Anneke Beerten - who boosted her Queen of Crankworx lead in the process. Revelstoke's Casey Brown was third.

Kintner overcame some warm conditions to earn the threepeat.

"It was a happy place and I had a good run. I know this course really well, every tranny, when not to overjump or corner," she said. "It suits me really, really strong.

"I felt good all day and was having fun, so that's a victory in itself."

As for the men, Stevie Smith of Cassidy, B.C. had his two-year winning streak at the race snapped last year as he spent nearly all of 2014 recovering from foot injuries.

Smith posted a time of 4:07.70 to knock off Sam Blenkinsop and Harry Heath.

Smith, who had three surgeries for ankle and foot injuries in 2014, enjoys riding the A-Line hard and everything just seems to fall into place from there.

"I couldn't tell you, I have no idea. I just seem to win here. I put in a hard effort and once I get really tired, I don't let myself slow down," he said. "I just have a good time racing here and I think that the good times just translate into speed for myself."