Freestyle Nationals: Roark and Wilson claim moguls titles

American moguls skiers Michelle Roark and Bryon Wilson both claimed the first national titles of their careers as the Sprint U.S. Freestyle Championships kicked off today in Squaw Valley, Cali.

World Cup 2009 overall moguls champion Hannah Kearney claimed the silver, followed by Shanon Bahrke in third. Shelly Robertson finished fourth, followed by defending champion Emiko Torito in fifth.

Roark’s best finish this year was a second place at a World Cup competition in Deer Valley, Utah, and has six World Cup victories to her name, as well as last year’s duals national title. The 34-year-old’s previous best in at a singles National Championships was a third-place finish in 2006. She has been on the U.S. Ski Team for 11 years.

Wilson edged out defending champion Michael Morse, who landed in second. Joseph Discoe claimed the bronze. Reed Synderman was just off the podium in fourth.
   
Wilson, a member of the C-Team, has been on the U.S. squad for three years, his previous best finish at a National Championships was a third-place finish in a dual moguls contest in 2006. His best performance on the World Cup level came in 2008 when he finished fifth-place in a dual moguls competition in Are, Sweden.  

Today’s competition concludes this year’s moguls season as the U.S. Ski Team’s athletes and coaches turn their focus to next year’s big event, the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Canada.

The championships in Squaw Valley continue tomorrow with men’s and women’s halfpipe competitions.

American moguls skiers Michelle Roark and Bryon Wilson both claimed the first national titles of their careers as the Sprint U.S. Freestyle Championships kicked off today in Squaw Valley, Cali.

World Cup 2009 overall moguls champion Hannah Kearney claimed the silver after losing a judge decision tiebreaker to Roark. Shanon Bahrke rounded out the podium in third. Shelly Robertson finished fourth, followed by defending champion Emiko Torito in fifth.

“It was a really rough World Cup season and it just felt so good to come here and lay on a run,” Roark said.

Roark’s best finish this year was a second place at a World Cup competition in Deer Valley, Utah, and has six World Cup victories to her name, as well as last year’s duals national title. The 34-year-old’s previous best in at a singles National Championships was a third-place finish in 2006. She has been on the U.S. Ski Team for 11 years.

“It’s an emotional win because I’ve been at this a long time and I have a lot of World Cup titles, but I’ve never won nationals in singles. It was just very overwhelming and very exciting for me,” Roark said. “Squaw Valley, I have never been here, but they put on an amazing event and it was so much fun to ski the moguls on their course. It was real moguls skiing and it felt so good.”



Wilson edged out defending champion Michael Morse, who landed in second. Joseph Discoe claimed the bronze. Reed Synderman was just off the podium in fourth.
   
“It feels like nothing you can imagine.” Wilson said. “I was 12th in qualifying, so I just let it all hang out and it worked out.”



Wilson, a member of the C-Team, has been on the U.S. squad for three years, his previous best finish at a National Championships was a third-place finish in a dual moguls contest in 2006. His best performance on the World Cup level came in 2008 when he finished fifth-place in a dual moguls competition in Are, Sweden.  

“It’s a confidence builder, for sure. I always knew I could do it. Today was the day,” Wilson said. “Hopefully I can do a repeat in duals.”



The Sprint U.S. Freestyle Championships in Squaw Valley continue tomorrow with men’s and women’s halfpipe competitions.

OFFICIAL RESULTS
2009 SPRINT U.S. FREESTYLE CHAMPIONSHIPS
Squaw Valley, CA – March 27, 2009
Moguls

Men
1. Bryon Wilson, Butte, MT, 26.23
2. Michael Morse, Duxbury, MA, 26.18
3. Joe Discoe, Ridgway, CO, 25.90
4. Reed Snyderman, Winchester, MA, 25.69
5. Sho Kashima, South Lake Tahoe, CA, 25.61
6. Dave DiGravio, Farmington, ME, 25.53
7. Bradley Wilson, Taylorsville, UT, 24.43+ 3 (tie breaker)
8. Cody Tempel, Missoula, MT, 24.43 +2
9. Jay Panther, Las Vegas, NV, 24.42
10. Jeremy Cota, Steamboat Springs, CO, 23.91

Women
1. Michelle Roark, Denver, 26.33 + 3 (tie breaker)
2. Hannah Kearney, Norwich, VT, +2
3. Shannon Bahrke, Tahoe City, CA, 26.03
4. Shelly Robertson, Reno, NV, 25.40
5. Emiko Torito, Denver, 24.78
6. Heather McPhie, Park City, UT, 24.70
7. Eliza Outtrim, Steamboat Springs, CO, 24.56
8. Laurel Shanley, Squaw Valley, CA, 24.10
9. K C Oakley, Piedmont, CA, 24.03
10. Allison DiGravio, Farmington, ME, 23.69

For complete results click here.