Brady's triumph brakes with convention

Skicross is built on one very simple tenant: Go as fast as you possibly dare for as long as you possibly dare and hope everything works out in the end - with the understanding that it usually won't.

It's a mindset that led Brady Leman to a fourth-place finish at the Sochi Olympics four years ago, and one that the Canadian knew he had to go against - at least for a few seconds - if he wanted to reach the top of the podium at Phoenix Snow Park on Wednesday.

So in the middle of the treacherous course that sent a handful of riders to hospital in medical sleds following frightening crashes, Leman did something he almost never does. He slowed down, opting for control over speed.