Omischl completes outstanding season with National title
Amber Peterson wins third straight Nationals

STE-ADELE, Que., March 22, 2008 – Aerialists Amber Peterson of Thunder Bay and Steve Omischl of Kelowna, B.C., each captured their third straight national freestyle ski title Saturday.

Steve Omischl, 29, won in convincing fashion after a World Cup season in which he was the world’s most dominant aerialist.

It was also Omischl’s fifth national aerials title, to tie him with retired aerials legend Lloyd Langlois and Olympic silver medalist Veronica Brenner.

“I don’t want to tally up my results just yet because there’s still lots I want to accomplish,” said Omischl, though admitting he wants to crack the men’s all-time record of 21 World Cup victories next season. He has 18.

This year Omischl won his third World Cup men’s overall aerials title by reaching the podium in eight of nine events and winning six World Cups. Jumping safely but decently was a focus at these nationals, said Omischl, whose hometown is North Bay, Ont.

Injury free for the first time in several seasons, Omischl said he wants to keep it that way. Entering the season in the best shape of his life, he remained healthy, with none of the nagging ankle, back, hip or shoulder injuries of past seasons.

Saturday, Omischl took the lead in the first round with a quad-twisting triple somersault.

“It was good in the air and a little off on the landing,” said Omischl.

He then clinched the title with a triple-twisting triple somersault, which he said was a little off in the air but solid on the landing.

His two-jump score was 236.51. Warren Shouldice of Calgary was second in 215.36 and Olivier Rochon of Gatineau, Que., third in 186.48.

Shouldice, a bronze medallist at the 2006 nationals, tipped his hat to Omischl. “He’s probably one of the best aerialists ever,” said Shouldice. “It’s just nice to watch him when he competes.”

Peterson, 25, nailed the landings in both of her jumps for a huge personal best of 187.64 points to win at these Canada Post Freestyle National Championships.

Peterson focused this season on increasing the degree of difficulty of her jumps so she can go head-to-head with the world’s best, who can produce two-jump scores of more than 200 points.

“It’s satisfying just in the sense that I’m doing what I’m supposed to be doing, and landing more jumps than ever,” said Peterson.

“This (nationals) was just as important as the World Cups, to show that my competition focus is on,” added Peterson, who opened with a strong triple-twisting double flip for 98.97 points. “I’m happy with my third win in a row, but I’m happier that my competitiveness is getting more consistent.”

At the 2007 nationals, Peterson won when Olympic bronze medallist Deidra Dionne of Red Deer was absent while recuperating from surgery. Dionne was back this year with a silver-medal score of 156.76. Sabrina Guérin of Laval scored 149.04 for her second straight bronze medal at the nationals.