AERIALS:

Tougas, Shouldice advance to aerials finals in Calgary

Jan. 10, 2010 — The Canadian Press

CALGARY, Alberta — Genevieve Tougas of St-Hubert, Que., was the lone Canadian to qualify for the final of a World Cup women's aerials event Sunday.

China's Nina Li led the way with 96.23 points, followed by Alla Tsuper of Belarus (95.37) and World Cup overall leader Xinxin Guo of China (91.73). Tougas, who finished second at last year's Canadian championships, qualified 11th with 71.66 points on a sunny day at Canada Olympic Park.

Amber Peterson of Thunder Bay, Ont., the top-ranked Canadian coming into the event, finished 15th with 64.10, missing out on a top-12 spot required to reach the final.

China led the way with four qualifiers, including second-ranked Mengtao Xu, who qualified eighth in 78.28.

Calgary's Warren Shouldice was the lone Canadian to earn a spot in the men's final. He qualified 12th with 107.52 points. Reigning World Cup overall champ Steve Omischl is not competing this weekend as he recovers from a mild concussion.  SRC