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A LaPointed victory

Sunday, March 28th, 2010

 

Sisters sweep; Gingras takes men’s podium

CALGARY, Alberta – Olympians Chloé Dufour-Lapointe of Montreal and Maxime Gingras of St-Hippolyte, Que., emerged victorious at the Canada Post Freestyle National Championships Sunday.

The Dufour Lapointe Sisters Justine, Chloe and Maxime

Dufour-Lapointe, 18, captured her first-ever national seniors title while leading her sisters to a medal sweep in women’s dual moguls. Maxime, 21, and Justine, 16, took second and third respectively.

“It’s really nice. It’s a first in a competition at this level, and we’re happy to be together,” said Chloé. “After the qualifications, we said we can do it.”

To make the sister-sweep possible, Justine defeated Andi Naude, 14, of Penticton, B.C., in the bronze-medal dual.

Chloé defeated Maxime in the gold-medal dual to finish her best season ever. It included a fifth at the Olympics and eighth in the final World Cup moguls standings.

“I’ve had the best season I’ve ever had, and it was just a wonderful experience at the Olympics,” said Chloé.

It was also a wonderful Olympics for Olympic moguls champion Alex Bilodeau of Rosemère, Que., who finished third in Sunday’s dual moguls. He says this was not his best season ever, but one in which he won the most important race.

Maxime Gingras, Canadian Dual Mogul Champion

“I had one great race,” said Bilodeau, 22, who went on to finish fourth in the final World Cup standings. His final placing was hampered by circumstance and injury. He was winning one race that ended up being cancelled by bad weather. He then suffered a late-season ankle sprain.

Five times Bilodeau has finished fourth or better in the final World Cup standings, including first in 2008-09.

Competing with a sprained left ankle and pain-killers at these national championships, Bilodeau won the single moguls Saturday and placed third in dual moguls Sunday.

In dual moguls, his ski caught on the starting ramp, leaving him to play catch-up in the semi-finals against Gingras.

Gingras, who won that dual, then defeated Eddie Hicks of Whistler, B.C., in the gold-medal dual.

“Its’ really satisfying, especially because I’m really tired at the end of this season,” said Gingras, who was 11th at the Olympics and still doesn’t know if he’ll retire.

“If it was my last ski in dual moguls, it was a good one,” said Gingras, 24.

Hicks’ first-ever medal at the senior nationals came after beating Olympian Vincent Marquis in one of his earlier duals.

“I really wasn’t counting on that dual,” admitted Hicks, 21, of the national development squad.

“I’m pretty thrilled (to win silver). It’s a really nice way to finish the season.”

FIS Rookie of the Year Mikael Kingsbury of Deux Montagnes, Que., was favoured to reach the podium. But he was eliminated by Marc-Antoine Gagnon of Terrebonne, Que., after both skiers lost a ski in their head-to-head dual. Gagnon finished the course on one ski to advance, then later lost the bronze-medal dual to Bilodeau.

 

The new guard shines at National Championships

Saturday, March 27th, 2010

 

CALGARY, Alta. – Gold medals at the Canada Post Canadian Freestyle National Championships Saturday went to aerialists Veronika Bauer of Toronto and Olivier Rochon of Gatineau, Que., and to moguls skiers Kristi Richards of Summerland, B.C., and Alex Bilodeau of Rosemère, Que.

One of the most gratifying wins belonged to Bauer, 30, with her fifth national senior title.

Canadian 2010 Men’s Mogul Champions (from L to R): Cedric Rochon, Alex Bilodeau, Mikael Kingsbury

The three-time Olympian hasn’t jumped much this year, after an early-season concussion kept her sidelined several weeks before the Vancouver Olympics.
Bauer then missed a usually-routine double twisting double flip, to place 15th and fall short of reaching the 12-skier Olympic final.

Ironically, Bauer had planned to perform the same jump in Saturday’s second round, only to opt for a harder triple-twisting double backflip. And she nailed it, to win by a landslide, with a world-class, two-jump score of 190.87 points.

Commenting on her decision to go for a tougher jump, Bauer said, “I just felt I couldn’t live the nightmare of missing that jump again. I’d rather do a hard jump poorly, rather than do an easier jump poorly.

“I just came to jump with my friends and have fun. I still love jumping,” added the 2001 world champion, who plans to compete with the national team for a 13th year next season.

The silver and bronze medals went to development team members Laurence Allard-Riendeau of Montreal and Crystal Lee of Queensville, Ont., with scores of 153.03 and 147.05, respectively.

Rochon, 20, collected his very first national championship win. “It feels good because I’ve always wanted to win a national junior or seniors,” said Rochon, who captured a bronze medal at the national juniors in moguls, not aerials, several seasons ago.

This year, Rochon emerged as the aerials alternate on the Canadian Olympic team and a forerunner. He was the 11th male on a freestyle ski team whose Olympic cap was 10 men.

Canadian 2010 Women’s Aerial Champions (from L to R): Laurence Allard-Riendeau, Veronika Bauer, Crystal Lee

“I’m happy I did well,” said Rochon, who performed quad-twisting and triple-twisting triple flips for the national title.

“I came to show that I can jump well, even though I didn’t make the Olympics. It makes me proud of myself.”

His winning score was 239.85.  Rémi Belanger of Mascouche, Que., was second and Travis Gerrits of Milton, Ont., took third. Their scores were 218.49 and 216.39.

The World Cup stars finished farther back. Calgary’s Kyle Nissen, who was fifth at the Olympics, placed fourth. World Cup teammates Ryan Blais of Grande Prairie, Alta., Warren Shouldice of Calgary and Steve Omischl of Kelowna, B.C., were fifth, seventh and eighth respectively with lower-difficulty jumps after a lengthy break from training.

In the individual moguls finals, victory went to Olympians Bilodeau and Richards in convincing fashion.

Returning from a bad ankle sprain suffered late in the World Cup season, Bilodeau, 22, was pleased to be back on snow.

“It’s better, but I’m definitely on pain-killers,” said the 2010 Olympic champion after capturing his sixth national moguls title – with three individual moguls titles, three in dual moguls, and a chance for another dual-moguls title Sunday.

“I was in control. I felt I made a couple of mistakes, but it was good enough,” said Bilodeau, who’s now recognized practically everywhere he goes because of his Olympic gold-medal status.

“It’s weird, definitely,” said Bilodeau of his newfound fame. “But I appreciate it, it’s always good comments.”

Second place went to teenage sensation Mikael Kingsbury of Deux Montagnes, Que., with a score of 25.52. Third place went to World Cup rookie Cédric Rochon of St-Sauveur, Que., in 24.61.

In women’s moguls, Richards was exhausted after a draining, yet exhilarating, season that included a 20th-place finish among 20 Olympic finalists.

It was a bittersweet Olympic experience, she said. She received incredible support for her performance in Vancouver where she got up after crashing and wowed the crowd with a huge full twisting back flip. But, she admits she fell well short of her goal of Olympic gold.

“To have such a reaction, from the community and the whole nation, and what it instilled in people (remains with me),” said Richards. “Their reaction reminded me to stay true to your heart, stay true to your goals, and no matter what happens, get up and keep going.”

Entering the nationals, Richards said she was exhausted from the longest competitive season of her life. She called her fourth national moguls title very satisfying.

She’ll now compete at least one more season, with a focus on the 2011 FIS World Championships on the 2002 Olympic course in Deer Valley.

Richards’ winning score Saturday was 23.76.

Next in line were the Dufour-Lapointe sisters of Montreal. 2010 Olympian Chloé was second, Justine third and Maxime fourth with scores of 23.60, 22.98 and 22.10.

Due to injury, two-time Olympic medallist Jenn Heil of Spruce Grove, Alta., is not competing.

Freestyle Nationals continue Sunday with Dual Moguls from WinSport Canada’s Canada Olympic Park. You can follow it live tomorrow at: http://www.freestyleski.com/en/index.php/national-championships-live-broadcast/

For more information, contact Media Relations Manager Kelley Korbin at: kelleykorbin@freestyleski.com

 

Slopestyle, halfpipe events kick-off 2010 Canada Post National Freestyle Ski Championships

Thursday, March 25th, 2010

 

CALGARY- Cassandra Sharpe of Comox, B.C., Stephanie Bourque of Victoria Harbor, Ont., Quinn Waddell and Kris Atkinson, both of Calgary, were the first four victors at the 2010 Canada Post National Freestyle Ski Championships at WinSport Canada’s Canada Olympic Park on Thursday.

In women’s slopestyle, Sharpe won the gold medal with 31.9 points for her first career national crown after placing third in Halifax recently at the Canada Post Junior Nationals.  Yuki Tsubota of Pemberton, B.C., was second at 28.0 and Bourque was third at 27.4.

It was the first time slopestyle has been integrated into a Canadian Senior Nationals event. In this discipline, athletes are judged on their performance in an obstacle course of rails and jumps.
Kris Atkinson of Calgary jumps to first place in the halfpipe

“It was great fun being out there in the nice conditions,’’ said Sharpe, 17, who started competing in the sport five years ago.  “The keys for me were landing my back flip and my 540.  I’ve gained a lot of experience this year competing throughout B.C., and Canada.  It just it keeps getting bigger and better for me.’’

In men’s slopestyle, 16-year-old Quinn Waddell of Calgary was the victor with a 39.7 score.  Tucker Visser of Penticton, B.C., was second at 38.6 and Keaton Carlson of Calgary third at 38.2.

“I stayed in a good mood and tried to have fun,’’ said Quinn, also with his first national title.  “I was very happy with my performance.  I have been having a tendency lately of going too fast on my runs and I was able to control that today.’’

In women’s halfpipe, Bourque notched her second medal of the day posting the win with 27.6 points.  She also won gold at the recent Junior Nationals in slopestyle and Big Air.  Shannon Gunning of Calgary was second at 25.3 and Tsubota third at 24.7.

“I’m super pumped about my performance,’’ said Bourque, 17.  “I stayed focused and never gave up.  We didn’t get an opportunity to train that match in the pipe so that it was always a tough situation.’’

In men’s halfpipe, Atkinson dominated with a 41.2 score to successfully defend his national title. Garett Northey of Red Deer, Alta., was second at 34.6 and Aaron MacKay of Calgary third at 33.9.

“It felt great,’’ said Atkinson, 18.  “The sunny weather helped and I wanted to win again this year. The pipe wasn’t in top condition so that posed a big challenge for all the competitors.’’

The freestyle halfpipe is similar to the snowboard version except it is executed on skis.

Competition continues with Mogul qualifications on Friday. Aerials and single Mogul finals are Saturday ; Dual Moguls are on Sunday. Follow all these events live on our streaming webcast at: http://www.freestyleski.com/en/index.php/national-championships-live-broadcast/

For more information, please contact Canadian Freestyle Ski Association Media Relations Manager Kelley Korbin at: kelleykorbin@freestyleski.com.

—-

Thursday’s results at the Canadian freestyle skiing championships in Calgary:

SLOPESTYLE

Men: 1. Quinn Waddell, Calgary, 39.7; 2. Tucker Visser, Penticton, B.C., 38.6; 3.Keaton Carlson, Calgary, 38.2; 4. Alex Mochan, Grande Prairie, Alta., 37.5; 5. Hunter Visser, Penticton, B.C., 35.9; 6. Aaron McKay, Calgary, 35.7; 7. Thomas Nelner, Calgary, 35.0; 8. Brendan MacKay, Calgary, 33.7; 9. Corbin Lefebvre, Grovedale, Alta., 33.7; 10. Michael Brush, Panorama, B.C., 33.5.

Women: 1. Cassandra Sharpe, Comox, B.C., 31.9; 2. Yuki Tsubota, Pemberton, B.C., 28.0; 3. Stephanie Bourque, Victoria Harbor, Ont., 27.4; 4. Keltie Hansen, Edmonton, 25.9; 5. Meagan Fiselier, Calgary, 13.8; 6. Jackie Atkinson, Calgary, 10.8; 7. Tianna Franks, Kelowna, B.C., 8.3.

HALFPIPE

Men: 1. Kris Atkinson, Calgary, 41.2; 2. Garett Northey, Red Deer, Alta., 34.6; 3. Aaron MacKay, Calgary, 33.9; 4. Keaton Carlson, Calgary, 33.9; 5. Brendan MacKay, Calgary, 32.4; 6. Lukas Bowman, Alberta, 32.4; 7. Alex Mochan, Grande Prairie, Alta., 32.0; 8. Thomas Pool, B.C., 31.9; 9. Sam Thackray, B.C., 31.5; 10. Collin Jefferies, Red Deer, Alta., 30.6.

Women: 1. Stephanie Bourque, Victoria Harbor, Ont., 27.6; 2. Shannon Gunning, Calgary, 25.3; 3. Yuki Tsubota, Pemberton, B.C., 24.7; 4. Jackie Atkinson, Calgary, 22.5; 5. Cassandra Sharpe, Comox, B.C., 19.3; 6. Tianna Franks, Kelowna, B.C., 13.9.

 

Canada Post Canadian Freestyle National Championships web-streamed live this weekend

Thursday, March 25th, 2010

 

The Canadian Freestyle Ski Association will be live-streaming the Mogul and Aerial events from this weekend’s Canada Post Canadian Freestyle National Championships at Winsport’s Canada Olympic Park in Calgary.

Watch live action as your heroes from the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games wrap up their season competing against the up and coming Freestyle athletes from across the country.

The website links are:

English:
http://www.freestyleski.com/en/index.php/national-championships-live-broadcast/

French:
http://www.freestyleski.com/fr/index.php/championnats-nationaux-emission-de-phase/

The schedule is as follows:

Friday, March 26

Moguls – Qualif. 14:15-15:45

Saturday, March 27

Aerials 10:45-11:45
Moguls – Finals 12:30-13:30

Sunday, March 28

Dual Moguls – Qualif. 11:00-12:30
Dual Moguls – Finals 13:30-14:30

Many thanks to Jay Henitiuk for organizing the live-streaming of this exciting event. For more information, please contact Media Relations Manager Kelley Korbin at: kelleykorbin@freestyleski.com.

Don’t forget to sign up for our Facebook Fan Page at: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Canadian-Freestyle-Ski-Association/153194924589?v=wall&ref=ts

 

Canadian Series wraps up at COP

Monday, March 22nd, 2010

 

Garret Wiltshire impresses with double-gold performances
March 21, 2010, Silver Star Mountain Resort, Vernon, B.C. — CanWest team member Garret Wiltshire delighted the home town crowd winning double gold at the Canada Post Canadian Series Freestyle Frenzy mogul and dual mogul competition held this past weekend at Silver Star.

Garret Wiltshire took the gold in single
and dual men’s moguls

Under blue bird conditions Saturday, Garret took gold while fellow team-member Andrew Pool was silver. Luke Ulsifer of Alberta took bronze to round out the men’s category. In Sunday’s duals Garret struck again beating out Luke Ulsifer for gold. Paul Passek of Ontario was third.

In women’s single moguls Alberta’s Morgan Hunter was first; Ontario’s Kylie Sivell was second and B.C.’s Talia Koshlay was third. In dual moguls, Penticton 13-year-old Andi Naude skied impressive runs to take gold. Yuki Tsubota of Whistler took silver and Sivell claimed bronze for her second medal of the weekend.

Mogul action resumes this weekend as many of the competitors head to Calgary for National Championships.

 

 

 

 

 

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Heil takes her place on top of the world

Thursday, March 18th, 2010

 

Kingsbury FIS Rookie of the year
March 18, 2010, Sierra Nevada, Spain – Canadian Jenn Heil didn’t compete here in the World Cup Finals today, due to a seized hamstring and quadriceps, but she still took away her fifth FIS Crystal Globe, marking her, once again, the world’s best female mogul skier.

Canadian Freestyle Ski Association CEO Peter Judge had high praise for Heil’s accomplishment.
Jenn Heil and coach Dominick Gauthier celebrate Jenn’s 5th FIS Crystal Globe win

“The Crystal Globe is the pinnacle honour for Freestyle skiing – obviously winning it five times is an incredible achievement, but when you consider that Jenn did so despite the fact that she sat out two of the 11 events this season, you can see what a truly remarkable athlete she is.”

Under cloudy skies and flat light conditions here, Heil’s Canadian teammates put on a valiant show for the last World Cup of the season.

The biggest story of the day may well be the fact that three FIS World Cup rookies: Mikael Kingsbury of Deux Montagnes, Que; Eddie Hicks of Whistler, B.C.; and, Cédric Rochon of Saint-Sauveur, Que managed to make the finals today alongside veteran Canadian World Cup Team members Vincent Marquis, from Quebec City and Olympic champion Alex Bilodeau from Rosemère, Que, showing, once again, the tremendous depth of the Canadian Freestyle program.

Kingsbury, who was fourth for the second week in a row and who won the NorAm overall title earlier this month said, “Today went super well. I’m so happy. My goal this season was to make it to finals in the World Cups that I qualified for, so for me a fourth place is like a win. Next year I’ll make the podium.”

“I have watched all these big guys – like Alex Bilodeau and Dale Begg-Smith – ski since I was young. They are my idols. To be able to challenge them is a dream.” Kingsbury’s results on the World Cup circuit this year earned him the title 2010 FIS Rookie of the year.

Marquis finished in 5th, Bilodeau was 8th, Hicks was 9th and Rochon was 15th in today’s 16-man final.

On the women’s side, Kristi Richards of Summerland, B.C. was the top Canadian. She finished in fifth place and posted the fastest run of the day, but said that in her mind her placing didn’t reflect the quality of her run today.
Mikael Kingsbury

“I skied great,” she said, adding, “But I can’t control the judges. Today was challenging with the flat light and stormy conditions, but I feel like I ended my season on a high note. It was a great course and I skied to my ability. I’m happy to end my season with that.”

Other Canadian women in the final were Chloé Dufour-Lapointe from Montreal, Que who finished in 6th; Audrey Robichaud from Quebec City, 11th; and, Maxime Dufour-Lapointe, 12th. Béatrice Bilodeau was injured in training and didn’t compete.

The Canadian Team competes for the last time this season next week at Canadian National Championships at Winsport’s Canada Olympic Park in Calgary. More information about Senior Nationals can be found at http://www.freestyleski.com/page.php?la=en&pa=team&id=national-championships.

Olympians Bilodeau, Heil and Dufour-Lapointe return home to Montreal Friday, March 19. Media is welcome to meet them at the International Arrivals level of Montreal-Trudeau Airport at 2:25 p.m.

For more information, please contact Canadian Freestyle Ski Association Media Relations Manager Kelley Korbin at: kelleykorbin@freestyleski.com

 

Conquista!

Tuesday, March 16th, 2010

 

The Canadian Freestyle Ski Team is set to clinch another FIS Freestyle Nations Cup title this week as Grenada, Spain hosts Mogul and Ski Cross events at the FIS World Cup finals this week.
Mogul skier Vince Marquis (right)and coach Rob Kober know Canada is the number one Freestyle Nation in the world

The Canadian team, made up of skiers from all three freestyle disciplines: Moguls, Aerials and Ski Cross, has a healthy lead over the second place United States team and will surely take the prestigious award for a fifth year in a row.

Moreover, Canadian mogul maven Jenn Heil, who last week clinched her fifth FIS crystal globe in women’s moguls, has a chance to win the 2010 FIS Freestyle Overall Champion title. Heil is in a close race with Nina Li for that honour and needs a gold or silver showing in Spain to edge past the Chinese aerial star.

Thursday’s event will mark the first time the Sierra Nevada resort has hosted a World Cup Moguls event. Canadian athletes who have already arrived in Spain say they are excited about the course and happy to end their international competitive season in new surroundings.

Olympic champion Alex Bilodeau, who injured his ankle last week in Sweden, hopes to be back on his skis for Thursday’s event; and Max Gingras, who made the podium in both Sweden events last week, is hoping for a hat trick.

The single mogul event runs on March 18. For more information, or to arrange post-event interviews with athletes please contact Media Relations Manager Kelley Korbin at: kelleykorbin@freestyleski.com.

Canadians competing this week are:

Jenn Heil – Montreal, Que.

Kristi Richards – Summerland, B.C.

Chloé Dufour-Lapointe – Montreal, Que.

Maxime Dufour-Lapointe – Montreal, Que.

Audrey Robichaud – Quebec City, Que.

Béatrice Bilodeau – Rosemère, Que.

Alex Bilodeau – Rosemère, Que.

Vincent Marquis – Quebec City, Que.

Maxime Gingras – Saint-Hippolyte, Que.

Philippe Marquis – Quebec City, Que.

Cédric Rochon – Saint-Sauveur, Que.

Mikael Kingsbury – Deux Montagnes, Que.

Eddie Hicks – Whistler, B.C.

Pierre-Alexandre Rousseau is injured and will not be competing.

 

Royale congratulates Jenn Heil on Facebook

Monday, March 15th, 2010

 

As part of Royale’s continuing support of Olympic medallist and moguls superstar Jenn Heil, and of their support of Freestyle skiing in Canada, they have created a Facebook page where the public can send messages of  congratulations to Jenn.

Go to http://www.facebook.com/pages/ROYALE-Congratulates-Jenn-ROYALE-felicite-Jenn/340627688642?v=wall.

For every message posted Royale is contributing $1.00 to the Canadian Freestyle Ski Association in support of grassroots programming across the country.  Cool!

 

Heil seals the deal for place in history books with 5th Crystal Globe

Saturday, March 13th, 2010

 

Career-best silver, and second medal in two-days, for Gingras

Are, Sweden – Jenn Heil of Spruce Grove, Alta., is on top of the  moguls world after capturing a bronze medal in FIS Freestyle World Cup action Saturday, while Maxime Gingras of St-Hippolyte, Que., collected a silver for his second medal in as many days.
Jenn Heil en route to her 5th
Crystal Globe, earlier in the season

Heil lost a nail-biting semi-final dual to Olympic champion Hannah Kearney of the U.S., but won her bronze-medal dual over Eliza Outtrim of the U.S. to clinch the World Cup overall women’s moguls title for the 2009-10 season.

That gave Heil, 26, her fifth Crystal Globe, to tie the record set by American Donna Weinbrecht, the 1992 Olympic champion who dominated the slopes for much of her career.

“I would have to say this is one of the sweetest,” said Heil of her five crystal globes, after winning others in 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007. She took off 2008, and placed second last season.

“It’s definitely a challenge to stay on top,” added Heil. “To tie Donna for the all-time record is definitely nothing I had imagined when I started the sport.”

Heil remembers competing against Weinbrecht during her first two years on the World Cup circuit in the early 2000s. “She’s one of the most beautiful skiers,” said Heil. “She had the best quality of turns and she really dominated the sport in her time, so to be in that same category is really special.”

“I can remember my first years on the World Cup team and watching (teammate) Jean-Luc (Brassard) winning his (three) globes, and wondering if I’d ever win one.”

Saturday’s dual moguls for women finished with Kearney defeating teammate Shannon Bahrke for the gold medal. That moved Kearney into second in the overall standings with 566 points. Heil, with one event left in the season, has 725 points.

Other Canadians reaching Saturday’s round of 16 were Chloé Dufour-Lapointe of Montreal in fifth, Audrey Robichaud of Quebec City 10th, teenager Béatrice Bilodeau of Rosemère, Que., 11th, Maxime Dufour-Lapointe of Montreal 12th and Kristi Richards of Summerland, B.C., 15th.

The men’s overall moguls title is still up for grabs after Guilbaut Colas of France won Saturday’s gold-medal dual over Gingras.

Gingras, who captured a bronze medal in individual moguls Friday, is skiing the best of his life, but hasn’t decided if he’ll compete another four years, or retire and take up his career as a heavy machinery operator. For the time being, he’s enjoying his fourth World Cup medal, and first one that wasn’t a bronze.

To reach the gold-medal final, Gingras won duals over Arnaud Burille of France, Olympic silver medallist Bryon Wilson of the U.S., and Mikael Kingsbury of Deux-Montagnes, Que.

“It was a great weekend for me, I’m really happy about this silver medal. It’s unbelievable. But I still don’t know if I’ll compete next year,” said Gingras, 25, who was 11th at the 2010 Olympics.
Max Gingras on the podium in Sweden (photo by Kristi Richards)

“I just want to finish my season strongly. I’m thinking of retiring. It’s a big decision, but if I continue it will be for another four years.”

Patrick Deneen of the U.S. followed Friday’s silver medal with a bronze medal in dual moguls. He defeated Kingsbury to prevent the Canadian teenage sensation from reaching the podium.

Other round-of-16 Canadian finalists were Vincent Marquis of Quebec City in sixth and Cédric Rochon of St-Sauveur, Que., in 13th. Philippe Marquis of Quebec City was 26th.

Dale Begg-Smith of Australia placed 10th to remain atop the men’s overall moguls standings. He has 613 points, while Jesper Bjoernlund of Sweden and Colas remain in contention for the title, with 541 and 515 points respectively.

Olympic champion Alex Bilodeau of Rosemère, Que., is fourth, but likely sidelined for the remainder of the World Cup campaign with a badly sprained left ankle that he suffered in training Thursday. Olympic finalist Pierre-Alexandre Rousseau of Drummondville, Que., is sidelined with back and knee injuries.

The World Cup finale is March 18 in Spain.

For more information, contact Media Relations Manager Kelley Korbin at: kelleykorbin@freestyleski.com.

 

Fifth globe within reach for Heil

Friday, March 12th, 2010

 

Bilodeau and Rousseau sit out while Gingras makes first podium of the season

ARE, Sweden – Jenn Heil of Spruce Grove, Alta., is on the verge of clinching a record-tying fifth Crystal Globe as the top overall World Cup female moguls skier in the world.
Jenn Heil celebrated her 7th trip
to the podium in 7 World Cup starts

Her silver-medal showing in Friday action at this FIS Freestyle World Cup leaves her atop the women’s standings after 10 of 12 events. Teammate Maxime Gingras of St-Hippolyte, Que., finished third in the men’s moguls final.

It was Gingras’s third career World Cup medal, as Olympic gold-medal teammate Alex Bilodeau of Rosemère, Que., watched from the sidelines with a badly sprained ankle suffered in training Thursday.

In women’s moguls, Heil was fifth in the qualification round before upping her game in the final.

“I don’t know what’s up with me and flatter courses, but I always find them challenging,” said Heil, 26. “I was trying to find my groove and rhythm, and it took me the qualifications and finals to find it.”

The silver-medal score of 25.31 left her behind 2010 Olympic champion Hannah Kearney of the U.S., who scored 26.06 while producing the day’s fastest time of 24.33 seconds.

Heil was close behind, at 24.56 seconds, but she said Kearney was deserving of the win.

“She skied a great run and I had major errors on both my jumps,” said Heil, alluding to her own lack of crispness and height of her jumps.

With the silver medal, Heil still leads the overall World Cup moguls standings. She has 665 points to 516 for runner-up Heather McPhie of the U.S. and 466 for Kearney.

In Friday’s final, Olympic bronze medallist Shannon Bahrke of the U.S. was third and McPhie fourth.

“Every season I’m definitely skiing for the Crystal Globe,” said Heil, suggesting the globe indicates the winner is a consistently high-level performer. Retired 1992 Olympic champion Donna Weinbrecht of the U.S. currently tops the historical rankings with five moguls crystal globes to her name.

Five of Heil’s teammates also reached Friday’s women’s moguls final.

Chloé Dufour-Lapointe of Montreal was fifth, sister Maxime Dufour-Lapointe, also of Montreal, eighth, and Kristi Richards of Summerland, B.C., 10th. World Cup rookie Béatrice Bilodeau, 16, placed 15th and Audrey Robichaud of Quebec City 16th in the 16-skier final.

In the men’s moguls final, Jesper Bjoernlund of Sweden won his third World Cup of the season to move to second in the overall men’s moguls standings behind Dale Begg-Smith of Australia.
Max Gingras (right) shared the podium with Patrick Deneen (U.S.) and Swedish hometown hero Jesper Bjoernlund

In Friday’s final, Bjoernlund, who finished eighth at the Olympics, edged Patrick Deneen of the U.S., 25.91 to 25.72 for the gold. Gingras, with his third career World Cup medal, after placing 11th at the Olympics, scored 25.57. Close behind, in fourth, at 25.39, was World Cup rookie Cédric Rochon of St-Sauveur, Que.

After bronze medals for dual moguls at Are in 2009 and single moguls at Apex in 2007, the 25-year-old Gingras said the skiing conditions were to his liking for his third career World Cup medal.

He wasn’t skiing as well in the slower snow Thursday, but then the conditions got icier and faster for Friday.
“I have three World Cup podiums now, and all are third,” he said. “I was hoping maybe for second. I’m a little disappointed, but it’s still a really, really good performance,” added Gingras after producing the field’s second highest air scores of 5.45, only bettered by teammate Rochon’s 5.57.

Other Canadian finalists were Vincent Marquis of Quebec City in seventh and World Cup rookie Mikael Kingsbury of Deux-Montagnes, Que., in 15th after placing fourth in the qualification round.

Olympic champion Alex Bilodeau will remain on the sidelines for Saturday’s dual moguls, and remains a very outside chance of competing in the World Cup season finale in Spain March 18.

Bilodeau tried skiing Friday morning, with a taped left ankle, but skied just two moguls.

“It was really hard to let go of the Grand Prix (overall standings). I feel I’m on top of my game,” said Bilodeau, who sits fourth in the overall standings.

“It’s hard to swallow, but I just have to let it go.”

As for Gingras’s bronze medal, Bilodeau said: “Maxime did a really, really good run. He was the fastest in the middle section I’ve ever seen. He really impressed me and the rest of the team.”

Pierre-Alexandre Rousseau of Drummondville, Que. was also sidelined with an injury at today’s event.
Action resumes Saturday with dual moguls.

For more information contact Media Relations Manager Kelley Korbin at: kelleykorbin@freestyleski.com.

 

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