MOGULS:

Kingsbury reigns in Killington Nor-Am moguls

Feb. 5, 2010 — Canadian Freestyle Ski Association          ►Photo: Mikael Kingsbury (Mike Ridewood, CFSA)

KILLINGTON, Vt. – Mikael Kingsbury of Deux-Montagnes, Que., continued his domination of men’s moguls on the Nor-Am freestyle ski circuit Friday. He collected his third-straight win after starting the season with a solitary bronze medal in his Nor-Am portfolio.

“He’s a phenomenal jumper, and he’s improved a lot since last year,” said former World Cup skier Jim Schiman, one of Canada’s national development team coaches. “He’s putting down big jumps and he has made a lot of technical gains.”

Winning back-to-back events in Lake Placid a week ago buoyed his confidence entering the first of two moguls events here.

“Every year I’ve improved a little more,” said Kingsbury, 17, who tries to pattern some of his technique after Canadian-born Australian moguls skier Dale Begg-Smith, a medal favourite at the 2010 Olympics.

Kingsbury finished second in the preliminary round Friday before improving his jumps in the final.

“I was watching all the guys and saw some good runs with fast times, so I knew I had to ski well,” said the 140-pound Kingsbury. “It’s one of the best runs I’ve ever done,” he added after polishing up his jumps — a back-twisting flip and an off-axis D spin — in the final.

“Mikael is an awesome skier. He just rips all the courses,” said teammate Cédric Rochon of St-Sauveur, Que., who placed third.

It was Rochon’s first career Nor-Am medal after producing a World Cup personal best of 10th in Lake Placid last month.

“I’m really happy with the way I’m skiing,” said Rochon, 19. “I’ve improved a lot and I want to continue to improve and go faster.”

Rochon’s score was 23.83, leaving Jeremy Cota of the U.S. second in 24.75 and Kingsbury leading at 25.28.

Rochon, Kingsbury, Eddie Hicks of Whistler, B.C., and Philippe Marquis of Quebec City will also be forerunners for men’s moguls at the Vancouver Olympics.

Other Canadian men in Friday’s final were Hicks in fifth, Marc-Antoine Gagnon of Terrebonne, Que., 10th, Marquis 13th and Simon Pouliot-Cavanagh of Quebec City 15th.

In women’s moguls, the Americans swept the podium as Eliza Outtrim’s score of 23.15 left Heidi Kloser second in 22.98 and Allison Digravio third in 22.84.

Canadian World Cup skiers Audrey Robichaud of Quebec City, Maxime Dufour-Lapointe of Montreal and development squad member Béatrice Bilodeau of Rosemère, Que. took fourth, fifth and sixth, respectively.

“I skied OK,” said Robichaud, after scoring 22.37. “I made a couple of mistakes in the morning that I fixed for the finals. I wish I did better, that’s for sure, but I’m mainly here for training.” Robichaud won two medals — a gold and a bronze — in last week’s Lake Placid Nor-Ams.

Other Canadian finalists were Alexandra Dufresne of Lorraine, Que., in 12th, Alex-Anne Gagnon of Terrebonne, Que., 13th, and Julie Bureau of Lac Beauport, Que., 14th.

Action resumes with dual moguls Saturday and aerial Nor-Ams from Ski Mont Gabriel on Saturday and Sunday.  SRC