French skiers sweep halfpipe titles at World Cup Finals

French skiers sweep halfpipe titles at World Cup Finals{mosimage}French skiers swept to victory in the ski halfpipe competition in the Suzuki Freestyle FIS World Cup Finals Saturday in Bardonecchia, Italy.

Marie Martinod edged Virginie Faivre of Switzerland to win the women’s competition with mogul champion Kari Traa in third, while Mathias Wecxsteen got past compatriot Aurelien Fornier to win the men’s finale.

Light snow and poor light hampered the athletes, but good crowds turned out to watch skiers throw tricks in the pipe.

Americans Ali van Dorn and Marie Claire Waryas didn’t start the women’s heat while American Daniel Marion took eighth in the men’s heat. Canada’s Corey Vanular was fifth, the lone non-French skier in the top 10.

Martinod and Wecxsteen also claimed the overall titles in their respective fields in the three-round World Cup series.

Ski halfpipe made its debut as a World Cup discipline this year. Martinod won all three events while Wecxsteen won two en route to the overall crown.

Freestyle World Cup Finals
Bardonecchia, Italy
March 13, 2004
Men’s Halfpipe
1. Mathias Wecxsteen (France) 89.4
2. Aurelien Fornier (France) 88.0
3. Laurent Favre (France) 87.2
Also:
5. Corey Vanular (Canada) 80.2
8. Daniel Marion (U.S.) 76.4

Women’s Halfpipe
1. Marie Martinod (France) 72.0
2. Virginie Faivre (Switzerland) 70.4
3. Kari Traa (Norway) 63.4