Men’s events cancelled; women settle for a one-run final
INAWASHIRO, Japan – Moguls skier Jenn Heil of Spruce Grove, Alta., followed up her silver medal at the Olympic Games with a silver medal in World Cup Freestyle FIS World Cup action Sunday.
Weather conditions forced cancellation of the scheduled World Cup Saturday, and fog didn’t make the situation much better Sunday for competitors and the overflow crowd of about 5,000.
The women completed a single-run final, without qualifications, despite fog delays.
The men’s moguls event was cancelled after about half the men completed their runs.
These included Olympic moguls champion Alex Bilodeau of Rosemère, Que., who was leading when the event was called off due to heavy fog. Olympic silver medallist Dale Begg-Smith of Australia trailed Bilodeau, while one of the favourites, Guilbaut Colas of France, had yet to run.
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Jenn Heil (L) and Aiko Uemuraof Japan share a laugh earlier in the season.
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Sunday’s medal is Heil’s sixth in her last six starts, after beginning the season with a fifth-place showing in Suomu, Finland last December. The silver medal also stops Heil’s winning streak at four World Cups this season, but leaves her atop the women’s overall moguls standings, and in contention for her fifth overall World Cup title.
She has 565 points, while Heather McPhie of the U.S. is second with 466.
Heil also won the title in 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007, then did not compete in the 2007-08 season. Last season she was second overall.
Heil, who now lives in Montreal, scored 22.73 points for second place Sunday. The winner was Japan’s Aiko Uemura, fourth at the recent Olympics, with a score of 23.00. Olympic bronze medallist Shannon Bahrke of the U.S. was third in 22.20. Olympic champ Hannah Kearney of the U.S. was not competing.
“It was a great run,” said Heil of Sunday’s performance. “It was very clean on such a challenging course. Aiko’s run was aggressive with many errors. Mine was a little cleaner, but a second slower,” added Heil whose time was 30.54, compared to Uemura’s leading time of 28.99.
“It’s the hardest course in the world by far, so I just kept it simple and did a technically strong run.”
The Canadian superstar said it was nice to be back on the slopes, but the 2010 Olympic experience in Vancouver still resonates.
“Obviously, the Olympics were such an amazing moment,” explained Heil. “Competing at home (in Canada) was the most rich experience I’ve had in my career. For many Canadians it was such a special time.”
Next Canadians in Sunday’s women’s moguls were Chloé Dufour-Lapointe of Montreal in 10th, sister Maxime Dufour-Lapointe, also of Montreal, 12th, Kristi Richards of Summerland, B.C., 17th, and Audrey Robichaud of Quebec City 19th.
The World Cup circuit resumes with moguls events Friday and Saturday in Are, Sweden.
For post-event calls from next week’s World Cup or for more information, contact Media Relations Manager Kelley Korbin at: kelleykorbin@freestyleski.com.
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