FREESTYLE:

Canadian moguls stars target crystal globes in Sweden

March 11, 2011 — ACFSA 

The FIS World Cup moguls circuit picks up this week in Are, Sweden, with back-to-back mogul and dual mogul events on Friday, March 11, and Saturday, March 12.

With only three events left for the season, the Canadian team is poised to make its strongest showing ever; and athletes are making a final push for the much-coveted crystal globes.

The men’s race is tight — Canada’s Mikaël Kingsbury and Alex Bilodeau trail Guilbaut Colas of France for the top spot.

With three events remaining, and only 46 points behind Colas, 18-year-old Kingsbury, who hails from Deux-Montagnes, Que., has a real shot of becoming the season’s overall points leader. However, he’s going to have some pressure from Olympic and world champion Bilodeau, who is only 102 points off the top spot (a win earns 100 points in the FIS rankings).

The next Canadian is St-Sauveur, Quebec’s Cédric Rochon in sixth position.

On the women’s side, Hannah Kearney of the U.S. leads the rankings with 709 points. Canadians Jenn Heil, Audrey Robichaud, Justine Dufour-Lapointe and Kristi Richards, respectively, hold spots two to five.

At 492 points, Spruce Grove, Alberta’s Heil is within mathematical striking distance of a record sixth globe, but it will be difficult to catch Kearney. Regardless, Heil, who now lives in Montreal, is ready to enjoy the final three FIS World Cups of her illustrious career — she has announced she will retire at the conclusion of the season.