FREESTYLE:

Bilodeau fends off Kingsbury again for dual moguls win

Feb. 26, 2011     ♦ Video by Infront Sports & Media/FIS
 

MARIANSKE LAZNE, Czech Republic — Olympic champion Alexandre Bilodeau won gold as Canada took four medals in a freestyle skiing World Cup on Saturday.

Bilodeau of Montreal edged Mikael Kingsbury of Deux-Montagnes, Que., in the men's dual moguls final after a narrow 18-17 decision by the judges.

It's Bilodeau's third victory in four dual moguls starts this season.

"I feel great right now," he said, "I'm feeling the momentum and I'm in great shape."

Bilodeau added he thought his final against Kingsbury was the most exciting pairing of the day.

"This is a challenging course because it's short and while it starts out fairly steep, it quickly goes to about 10 degrees," said Bilodeau. "It's hard to gain time on such a short course and you have to keep your run really clean because any small mistake will cost you.

"With (Kingsbury) and me it was really tight because neither of us made any mistakes."

Kingsbury promised to even the score next time.

"(Bilodeau) got me again," he said, "but I'll get him next time."

Jeremy Cota of the United States finished third.

Canada's success carried over into the women's race, where Jennifer Heil won silver ahead of Montreal's Chloe Dufour-Lapointe. American Hannah Kearney took the gold.

Heil said an over rotation on a back flip made her land a little deep and cost the Canadian a gold.

"I threw it out there on the table," she said. "I definitely didn't hold anything back. I was at a really high intensity and I did most of it exactly as I wanted to, but made that error that cost me the run today.

“That's the beauty of duals."

It was another all-Canadian race for bronze, which Dufour-Lapointe won against Quebec City's Audrey Robichaud.

Heil said the medal haul reminded her how much the Canadians have improved in the sport.

"It's been an outstanding season for the team thus far," she said. "Overall as someone who has been here over 10 seasons, it's really amazing to see the young skiers here. They've arrived. They're skiing consistently.

"Mikael is on the podium almost every race, which is not something easy to do in your first year. Usually it takes a little bit of experience, and then Chloe on the podium again. … There's such a bright future for Canada in this sport."

With three events remaining, Kearney leads the World Cup overall and France's Guilbaut Colas tops the men's standings.

— The Canadian Press contributed to this report

Marianske Lazne men's World Cup dual moguls results

Marianske Lazne women's World Cup dual moguls results