Heil, Gingras podium in Sweden moguls

Maxime Gingras of St-Hippolyte, Que., picked up a bronze in the men's moguls final.

Olympic champion Alex Bilodeau of Rosemere, Que., sat out with a badly sprained left ankle suffered in training Thursday. He tried skiing in the morning with his ankle taped but stopped after two moguls.

Bilodeau has an outside chance of competing in the World Cup season finale March 18.

“It was really hard to let go of the Grand Prix (overall standings). I feel I'm on top of my game,” said Bilodeau, who is fourth in the overall standings. “It's hard to swallow, but I just have to let them go.”

That's not a problem for Heil, a native of Spruce Grove, Alta., who holds a 149-point lead atop the standings over American Heather McPhie through 10 of 12 events. Heil was fifth in the qualification round Friday before upping her game in the final.

“Every season I'm definitely skiing for the crystal globe,” said Heil, who is chasing the retired Donna Weinbrecht's mark of five overall titles.

“I don't know what's up with me and flatter courses, but I always find them challenging,” she continued. “I was trying to find my groove and rhythm, and it took me the semifinals and finals to find it.”

Heil's score of 25.31 left her behind 2010 Olympic champion Hannah Kearney of the U.S., who posted a 26.06 while producing the day's fastest time of 24.33 seconds.

Heil was close behind, at 24.56 seconds, but she said Kearney deserved the win.

“She skied a great run and I had major errors on both my jumps,” said Heil.

Olympic bronze medallist Shannon Bahrke of the U.S. was third and McPhie fourth.

Five other Canadians reached the women's final.

Chloe Dufour-Lapointe of Montreal was fifth, sister Maxime Dufour-Lapointe was eighth, and Kristi Richards of Summerland, B.C., 10th. World Cup rookie Beatrice Bilodeau of Rosemere, Que., was 15th and Audrey Robichaud of Quebec City 16th.

In the men's event, Jesper Bjoernlund of Sweden won his third World Cup of the season to move to second in the overall moguls standings behind Dale Begg-Smith of Australia.

Bjoernlund, who finished eighth at the Olympics, edged Patrick Deneen of the U.S., 25.91 to 25.72 for the gold. Gingras, with his third career World Cup medal, scored 25.57.

“Maxime did a really, really good run,” said Bilodeau. “He was the fastest in the middle section I've ever seen. He really impressed me and the rest of the team.”

In fourth, at 25.39, was World Cup rookie Cedric Rochon of St-Sauveur, Que.

Other Canadian finalists were Vincent Marquis of Quebec City in seventh and World Cup rookie Mikael Kingsbury of Deux-Montagnes, Que., in 15th.

Action continues Saturday with dual moguls.  SRC