LAKE PLACID, NY (Jan. 17) - Hannah Kearney (Norwich, VT) took the win Thursday at the USANA Freestyle Cup in Lake Placid, her first event back after a training injury in early October. Pat Deneen (Cle Elum, WA) also stood atop the podium after three solid runs landed him in second place. The breakout story however was rookie Dylan Walczyk (Vail, CO), in only his second World Cup start, found himself in third after his big air and tight turns caught the judges’ eyes. Mikael Kingsbury of Canada kept ownership of the yellow bib with another win. The moguls team will take a quick break before athletes meet up for the Visa Freestyle International at Utah’s Deer Valley Resort Jan. 31 - Feb 2.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Olympic Champion Hannah Kearney (Norwich, VT) took the win in her first event back of the season
- 2009 World Champion Pat Deneen (Cle Elum, WA) earned his first podium of the season after three clean runs landed him in second place.
- Rookie team member Dylan Walczyk (Vail, CO) landed in third in the second World Cup start of his career.
- Walczyk got the call from his coaches less than a week ago that he would be competing in Lake Placid after a team member decided to sit out.
- Kearney was injured early October in a training crash in Zermatt and was only recently cleared to compete.
- Heather McPhie (Bozeman, MT) still holds the World Cup lead and yellow bib after failing to qualify for finals.
- The U.S. had five men and two women in the top 10.
- Mikaela Matthews (Frisco, CO) was a career best fifth. Nicholas Keating (Killington, VT) made finals and was ninth in his first career World Cup start.
- The USANA Freestyle Cup will air on NBC this Sunday, Jan. 20 at 3 p.m. ET.
- The moguls team will take a quick break before they all meet up for the Visa Freestyle International at Deer Valley Jan. 31 - Feb 2. Aerials is on tap for Friday and Saturday at Lake Placid. Aerials will be broadcast live on the USSA Network at www.usskiteam.com beginning at 8:00 p.m. EST.
QUOTES
Hannah Kearney
I couldn't have asked for a better first competition back. My family and my best friend were here cheering me on. The support I've got here at Lake Placid made it a great day to redeem myself in my first competition back.
Dylan Walczyk
I got the call to come to Lake Placid last Friday and made the decision to ski with the Team. It was an opportunity to prove myself after less than ideal results at selections. I didn't really have anything to lose so I just skied the way I know I can and it ended up being a really successful day.
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