SKI CROSS:

Eight Canadians targeting ski cross gold at Deer Valley

Jan. 31, 2011 — Canada Ski Cross 

Canada is sending a ski cross team loaded with talent, experience and a whole lot of heart to this week's FIS Freestyle World Ski Championships in Deer Valley, Utah.

An eight-strong lineup led by Winter X Games gold medallist Kelsey Serwa, of Kelowna, B.C., on the women's side, and X Games silver medallist Chris Del Bosco, of Sudbury, Ont., on the men's side, will compete for top honours on Thursday, Feb. 3 and Friday, Feb. 4.

"We definitely have a strong team," said Eric Archer, Canada's head coach. "We picked up a few injuries at X Games so our physios have a lot of work to do. But we have enough time to put everyone back together and put on a good show."

Serwa won the X Games in spectacular fashion, losing control on the last jump and crossing the finish line on her back. She suffered cuts and bruising to her face and back and although she's still a little sore, she'll be ready to race in Thursday's qualification round.

Whistler's Julia Murray needed stitches after scraping her chin in a fall at X Games, but she's also ready to push for the podium. Marielle Thompson of Whistler has a torn ligament in her thumb and will race with a splint. Calgary's Danielle Poleschuk, another talented skier, rounds out the women's team.

"Julia definitely has the ability and Kelsey's one of the most solid skiers on the circuit," said current world champion Ashleigh McIvor of Whistler, who won't compete due to a knee injury but will be at Deer Valley to cheer on her teammates.

"I've always said that once Kelsey gets enough experience under her belt she will dominate. I would be really proud of her if she won the worlds."

On the men's side, the team is led by Del Bosco, an experienced and talented skier who has been a force on the World Cup circuit in recent weeks and won silver at Sunday's X Games. Whistler's Davey Barr, who was third at the last World Championships — the 2009 event at Inawashiro, Japan — will also be a contender. Rounding out the men's team is Dave Duncan of Golden, B.C., and Toronto's Nik Zoricic, who earned his first career World Cup podium with a second-place finish at St. Johann, Austria, earlier this month.

"I'm super-excited about going to the worlds," said Barr. "Last time I was at Deer Valley, in '08, I won the World Cup race there. I'm skiing really well. I'm having consistent results — it just hasn't been my day yet. In our sport there's a lot of variables."

With Duncan nursing a groin strain, Whistler's Stan Rey and Brian Bennett of Quesnel, B.C., will travel to Deer Valley as alternates.

S-Magazine

WOMEN'S TEAM:
Julia Murray (Whistler, B.C.)
Marielle Thompson (Whistler, B.C.)
Danielle Poleschuk (Calgary, Alta.)
Kelsey Serwa (Kelowna, B.C.)

MEN'S TEAM:
Davey Barr (Whistler, B.C.)
Chris Del Bosco (Sudbury, Ont.)
David Duncan (Golden, B.C.)
Nik Zoricic (Toronto, Ont.)

SCHEDULE:
Thursday, Feb. 3: Men's and women's ski cross qualification, 2:30-4 p.m. ET
Friday, Feb. 4: Men's and women's ski cross finals, 3:30-5:15 p.m. ET

ON TV:
The 2011 FIS Freestyle World Ski Championships will be televised on NBC on Saturday, Feb. 5 at 4:30 p.m. ET and Sunday, Feb. 6, at 3 p.m. ET. Versus is carrying daily coverage at noon ET, from Wednesday, Feb. 2 through Friday, Feb. 4.