Downhill skier and Invermere native Ben Thomsen has been lighting up the world of competitive skiing over the past weeks.

After career-best finishes of 11th and 5th in consecutive races Chamonix, France, Thomsen then set a new career best by placing second in a World Cup event in Sochi, Russia on February 11.

This gave the 24-year-old his first career World Cup podium and entry into the exclusive “Canadian Cowboys” — a title given to Canadian skiers who place in the top three in either World Cup, world championship or Olympic races.

Racing on a bumpy and icy track in the home of the 2014 Olympics, Thomsen finished with a time of 2:14.37, .27 seconds behind first place finisher Beat Feuz of Switzerland. With three consecutive career best finishes, it seems like Thomsen may well be the next big star of Canadian ski racing.

Teammates and well-recognized competitors Erik Guay, of Mont-Tremblant, Que., and Jan Hudec, of Calgary, Alta., finished 20th and 24th, respectively.