Freestyle: Canadian mogul skiers defend home turf

Canadian mogul skiers Jennifer Heil and Alexandre Bilodeau made the most of their home-course advantage Saturday as they grabbed World Cup wins at Cypress Mountain, B.C.  

The rivalry between American Hannah Kearney and Heil gained more steam at the event as judges gave Heil the win over Kearney for the second week in a row. Kearney, who has yet to miss a podium this season, retains her 45-point lead in the points race mid-way through the season. Both women have two victories apiece. Austrian Margarita Marbler finished third.

“I skied the best I could on that course,” said Kearney. “It was my best run down all week. So I’m happy.”

On the bottom jump, Kearney threw a huge heli mute grab. “I did it for the second time in competition and this time I actually grabbed it, so that was very satisfying. I’m glad I pushed myself and tried something new.”

“Hannah did such an awesome job,” said moguls head coach Scott Rawles. “It’s her fifth podium in five events and she laid down her best stuff. In the final, she had the fastest time, skied great and really stuck her mute grab for the first time in competition. She’s definitely really on the right track.”

Canadian Alexandre Bilodeau won the men’s event for the home team. Japan’s Yugo Tsukita followed in second, with last weeks two-time winner, Frenchman Guillbaut Colas in third. American Patrick Deneen was fourth, missing the podium by three tenths.

Americans Michael Morse (7th) and David Babic (10th) also scored top-ten points.

The men’s effort did not go unnoticed by Rawles. “I think in the final, especially if you’re not qualified very high and you’re coming out of 10th or 11th place, you need to up the ante,” he said. “We’re not just going to be conservative and just ski for 10th place, we’re skiing for the podium and the win and I’m psyched about how my guys came out.”

The U.S. skiers had good things to say about the course where they will be going or all the marbles a year from now. “The course is great and they were receptive to athlete’s and coach’s concerns and it made for a great course for the competition,” added Kearney. “Canada is great about being open to suggestions and building a good course. We were nervous on the first day of training – it was very difficult and very different from Deer Valley – and it turned out well.”

After a few tweaks to the course, including knocking down tall moguls and adjusting the bottom jumps, officials had the course right where the athletes wanted it. “The course is really good,” said Morse. “The course was a little rough in the beginning of the week and as the days went on it got better and better.“

The moguls World Cup’s next stop is in Are, Sweden for competitions next weekend.

OFFICIAL RESULTS
FIS FREESTYLE WORLD CUP
Cypress Mountain, BC – Feb. 7, 2009
Moguls

Men
1. Alexandre Bilodeau, Canada, 25.65
2. Yugo Tsukita, Japan, 25.09
3. Guilbaut Colas, France, 24.78
4. Pat Deneen, Cle Elum, WA, 24.43
5. Pierre Ochs, France, 24.03
–
7. Michael Morse, Duxbury, MA, 23.03
10. David Babic, Washington, VT, 22.26
14. Sho Kashima, South Lake Tahoe, CA, 12.46
16. Bryon Wilson, Butte, MT, 10.82
–
Did not make finals
20. Landon Gardner, Missoula, MT, 20.09

Women
1. Jennifer Heil, Canada, 24.79
2. Hannah Kearney, Norwich, VT, 24.18
3. Margarita Marbler, Austria, 23.84
4. Miki Ito, Japan, 23.76
5. Aiko Uemura, Japan, 23.28
–
8. Shannon Bahrke, Tahoe City, CA, 21.84
12. Kayla Snyderman, Winchester, MA, 21.15
15. Emiko Torito, Denver, 19.66
16. Michelle Roark, Denver, 19.26

Canadian mogul skiers Jennifer Heil and Alexandre Bilodeau made the most of their home-course advantage Saturday as they grabbed World Cup wins at Cypress Mountain, B.C.  

The rivalry between American Hannah Kearney and Heil gained more steam at the event as judges gave Heil the win over Kearney for the second week in a row. Kearney, who has yet to miss a podium this season, retains her 45-point lead in the points race mid-way through the season. Both women have two victories apiece. Austrian Margarita Marbler finished third.

“I skied the best I could on that course,” said Kearney. “It was my best run down all week. So I’m happy.”

On the bottom jump, Kearney threw a huge heli mute grab. “I did it for the second time in competition and this time I actually grabbed it, so that was very satisfying. I’m glad I pushed myself and tried something new.”

“Hannah did such an awesome job,” said moguls head coach Scott Rawles. “It’s her fifth podium in five events and she laid down her best stuff. In the final, she had the fastest time, skied great and really stuck her mute grab for the first time in competition. She’s definitely really on the right track.”

Canadian Alexandre Bilodeau won the men’s event for the home team. Japan’s Yugo Tsukita followed in second, with last weeks two-time winner, Frenchman Guillbaut Colas in third. American Patrick Deneen was fourth, missing the podium by three tenths.

Americans Michael Morse (7th) and David Babic (10th) also scored top-ten points.

The men’s effort did not go unnoticed by Rawles. “I think in the final, especially if you’re not qualified very high and you’re coming out of 10th or 11th place, you need to up the ante,” he said. “We’re not just going to be conservative and just ski for 10th place, we’re skiing for the podium and the win and I’m psyched about how my guys came out.”

The U.S. skiers had good things to say about the course where they will be going or all the marbles a year from now. “The course is great and they were receptive to athlete’s and coach’s concerns and it made for a great course for the competition,” added Kearney. “Canada is great about being open to suggestions and building a good course. We were nervous on the first day of training – it was very difficult and very different from Deer Valley – and it turned out well.”

After a few tweaks to the course, including knocking down tall moguls and adjusting the bottom jumps, officials had the course right where the athletes wanted it. “The course is really good,” said Morse. “The course was a little rough in the beginning of the week and as the days went on it got better and better.“

The moguls World Cup’s next stop is in Are, Sweden for competitions next weekend.

For complete results click here.

OFFICIAL RESULTS
FIS FREESTYLE WORLD CUP
Cypress Mountain, BC – Feb. 7, 2009
Moguls

Men
1. Alexandre Bilodeau, Canada, 25.65
2. Yugo Tsukita, Japan, 25.09
3. Guilbaut Colas, France, 24.78
4. Pat Deneen, Cle Elum, WA, 24.43
5. Pierre Ochs, France, 24.03
–
7. Michael Morse, Duxbury, MA, 23.03
10. David Babic, Washington, VT, 22.26
14. Sho Kashima, South Lake Tahoe, CA, 12.46
16. Bryon Wilson, Butte, MT, 10.82
–
Did not make finals
20. Landon Gardner, Missoula, MT, 20.09

Women
1. Jennifer Heil, Canada, 24.79
2. Hannah Kearney, Norwich, VT, 24.18
3. Margarita Marbler, Austria, 23.84
4. Miki Ito, Japan, 23.76
5. Aiko Uemura, Japan, 23.28
–
8. Shannon Bahrke, Tahoe City, CA, 21.84
12. Kayla Snyderman, Winchester, MA, 21.15
15. Emiko Torito, Denver, 19.66
16. Michelle Roark, Denver, 19.26