With the 2010 Olympics less than a month away, world-class freestylers took to the bumps and air at
Deer Valley Resort for the Visa Freestyle International World Cup – Nature Valley Freestyle Challenge
(Jan 14-16).
WHO TOOK THE PODIUM?
MOGULS: It was a huge day for the U.S. women’s team on the moguls taking home two medals and six places in the top 12. In front of a huge hometown crowd, Heather McPhie (Park City, UT) won the first World Cup title of her career, tying for first with Canada’s Jennifer Heil. The win moved Heather to No. 2 in the women’s moguls world rankings. Shannon Bahrke (Tahoe City, CA), who won a silver medal in 2002 on the same Deer Valley course, took third. On the men’s side, six U.S. men made it to the final 16 with Patrick Deneen (Cle Elum, WA) leading the U.S. by taking fourth. The U.S. men placed four in the top nine. After Deneen, Jeremy Cota (Carrabassett Valley, ME) was sixth, Michael Morse (Duxbury, MA) eighth, and David Babic (Washington, VT) ninth.
AERIALS: The world’s best freestyle aerialists took to the sky on Deer Valley’s White Owl run. Overall leader Anton Kushnir won for the second time in four World Cup events, landing two variations of a triple back-flip with four rotations. American Dylan Ferguson was sixth among the men nailing his perfect back double-full, full, full for his best World Cup finish. World Cup winner Jeret “Speedy” Peterson (Boise, ID) failed to land his signature five-twist Hurricane jump and finished 12th. Australia’s Lydia Lassila nailed her first win in nearly a year with a new tricked jump—a back layout, double full, full-a triple flip.
DUAL MOGULS: World Cup leader Jennifer Heil did what she does best to take her second gold of the weekend, while Heather McPhie, Michelle Roark, Hannah Kearney (Norwich, VT) and Shannon Bahrke loaded the top finishes claiming the next four places. There were familiar faces at the top of the men’s moguls podium with France’s Guilbaut Colas and World Cup leader Dale Begg-Smith taking the gold and silver, respectively. Canada’s Alexandre Bilodeau took the bronze after failing to qualify for the finals Thursday. American skier Jeremy Cota upped his speed, turns and air to finish seventh in his second World Cup start, and Patrick Deneen, the U.S. Olympic trials winner, placed ninth.
OLYMPIC TEAM SELECTION:
So who’s in and who’s still hopeful for a 2010 Olympic team berth?
For the women’s team, 2006 Olympian and reigning World Cup overall champion Hannah Kearney secured one spot in last month’s U.S. Olympic trials and Heather McPhie is now in good shape after taking a gold and silver this weekend. Lacy Schnoor has already locked up a spot, while Shelly Robertson, Emily Cook (Belmont, MA) and Michelle Roark, whose bronze medal Saturday upped her standings, may be vying for the 4th Olympic team spot. Based on the updated World Cup standings, a top-10 skier may be left off the American team.
Patrick Deneen is the only one on the men’s team guaranteed an Olympic spot. Bryon Wilson (Butte, MT) is essentially “in” based on his two silvers last month. Park City-ite, Nate Roberts had a tough go this weekend coming off a knee injury. “Hopefuls” are looking for at least a top five finish in Lake Placid.
The Lake Placid Freestyle World Cup next weekend will be the last qualifier for these international athletes to gain points to improve their standings and keep their Olympic dream alive.
Deer Valley Resort hosts the Freestyle International World Cup
Deer Valley Resort for the Visa Freestyle International World Cup – Nature Valley Freestyle Challenge
(Jan 14-16).
WHO TOOK THE PODIUM?
MOGULS: It was a huge day for the U.S. women’s team on the moguls taking home two medals and six places in the top 12. In front of a huge hometown crowd, Heather McPhie (Park City, UT) won the first World Cup title of her career, tying for first with Canada’s Jennifer Heil. The win moved Heather to No. 2 in the women’s moguls world rankings. Shannon Bahrke (Tahoe City, CA), who won a silver medal in 2002 on the same Deer Valley course, took third. On the men’s side, six U.S. men made it to the final 16 with Patrick Deneen (Cle Elum, WA) leading the U.S. by taking fourth. The U.S. men placed four in the top nine. After Deneen, Jeremy Cota (Carrabassett Valley, ME) was sixth, Michael Morse (Duxbury, MA) eighth, and David Babic (Washington, VT) ninth.
AERIALS: The world’s best freestyle aerialists took to the sky on Deer Valley’s White Owl run. Overall leader Anton Kushnir won for the second time in four World Cup events, landing two variations of a triple back-flip with four rotations. American Dylan Ferguson was sixth among the men nailing his perfect back double-full, full, full for his best World Cup finish. World Cup winner Jeret “Speedy” Peterson (Boise, ID) failed to land his signature five-twist Hurricane jump and finished 12th. Australia’s Lydia Lassila nailed her first win in nearly a year with a new tricked jump—a back layout, double full, full-a triple flip.
DUAL MOGULS: World Cup leader Jennifer Heil did what she does best to take her second gold of the weekend, while Heather McPhie, Michelle Roark, Hannah Kearney (Norwich, VT) and Shannon Bahrke loaded the top finishes claiming the next four places. There were familiar faces at the top of the men’s moguls podium with France’s Guilbaut Colas and World Cup leader Dale Begg-Smith taking the gold and silver, respectively. Canada’s Alexandre Bilodeau took the bronze after failing to qualify for the finals Thursday. American skier Jeremy Cota upped his speed, turns and air to finish seventh in his second World Cup start, and Patrick Deneen, the U.S. Olympic trials winner, placed ninth.
OLYMPIC TEAM SELECTION:
So who’s in and who’s still hopeful for a 2010 Olympic team berth?
For the women’s team, 2006 Olympian and reigning World Cup overall champion Hannah Kearney secured one spot in last month’s U.S. Olympic trials and Heather McPhie is now in good shape after taking a gold and silver this weekend. Lacy Schnoor has already locked up a spot, while Shelly Robertson, Emily Cook (Belmont, MA) and Michelle Roark, whose bronze medal Saturday upped her standings, may be vying for the 4th Olympic team spot. Based on the updated World Cup standings, a top-10 skier may be left off the American team.
Patrick Deneen is the only one on the men’s team guaranteed an Olympic spot. Bryon Wilson (Butte, MT) is essentially “in” based on his two silvers last month. Park City-ite, Nate Roberts had a tough go this weekend coming off a knee injury. “Hopefuls” are looking for at least a top five finish in Lake Placid.
The Lake Placid Freestyle World Cup next weekend will be the last qualifier for these international athletes to gain points to improve their standings and keep their Olympic dream alive.