LAKE PLACID, NY (Jan. 13, 2017) – The U.S. moguls team capped off a day of strong performances at the Putnam Investment Freestyle Cup with two podiums. Morgan Schild (Pittsford, NY) and Brad Wilson (Butte, MT) charged down the Wilderness mogul course at Whiteface Mountain, both landing third place finishes.
Friday’s competition was Schild’s first World Cup appearance in 22 months. She suffered a season-ending knee injury in 2015 and has spent the past two years recovering and preparing herself for her return to competition. After her qualifying run, Schild slid into the finish corral with a huge smile on her face – it was obvious she was feeling good.
“Today solidified that all my work over the past two years as paid off,” said Schild. “All those times where I thought ‘why am I doing this, what’s the point’ – these are the moments that make the patience worth it. It makes you realize why you loved the sport in the first place, why you love to ski and why you love to represent Team USA.”
Morgan Schild hits the top air on the Wilderness mogul run at Whiteface Mountain. (Reese Brown)
The U.S. advanced seven women into finals, including Schild. She shared the podium with Australia’s Britteny Cox, who took home her second win of the season, and France’s Perrine Laffont.
Similar to Schild, Wilson suffered a season-ending knee injury in 2014 and returned to competition in Feb. 2015 with a World Cup win. Since then, the 2014 Olympian has continued to be a strong force on the U.S. men’s team. But his podium at Whiteface didn’t come easy. After watching his brother Bryon suffer a crash in the round of 16, Brad had to stay focused and make it down the course one more time in the super final.
Brad Wilson skis to his 10th career podium finish. (Reese Brown)
“I was just so bummed for Bryon,” said Wilson. “After that, I wasn’t really concerned about my run. I just wanted to do a top to bottom.”
Wilson did just that, scoring a 78.08 on his final run just behind Kazakstan’s Dmitriy Reiherd in first and France’s Ben Cavet in second.
“It’s awesome to podium in the U.S.,” continued Wilson. “I mean - it’s awesome to podium everywhere, but when you get to the finish area and see your score at number one and everyone in the crowd goes nuts, it just means a little more. You get to share it with everyone else, and that’s pretty special.”
The U.S. team will be on the hunt for more podium finishes as the Putnam Investments Freestyle Cup concludes on Saturday with the men’s and women’s aerial competitions.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Morgan Schild and Brad Wilson landed third place finishes in front of a hometown crowd at the Putnam Investments Freestyle Cup.
- It was Schild’s first World Cup start in 22 months after suffering a knee injury in March 2015.
- The U.S. women’s team advanced seven athletes, including Schild, into the final rounds.
- Australia's Britteny Cox took home the win for the women, with France’s Perrine Laffont in second.
- Wilson’s podium was the 10th of his career, and his second podium at the Whiteface venue.
- Kazakhstan's Dmitriy Reiherd took home the win for the men, with France’s Ben Cavet in second.
- NBC will air a broadcast of the moguls competition on Saturday, Jan. 13 at 4:30 p.m. EST.
- The Putnam Investments Freestyle Cup concludes on Saturday with the men’s and women’s aerial competitions.
QUOTES
Morgan Schild
Today solidified that all my work over the past two years as paid off. All those times were I thought ‘why am I doing this, what’s the point’ – these are the moments that make the patience worth it. It makes you realize why you loved the sport in the first place, why you love to ski and why you love to represent Team USA.
[on her thoughts before her final runs]
I just wanted to keep skiing my run. I knew the course conditions were going to be tough. The visibility was down and it was hard to see in between the moguls. But you just gotta keep your head on straight, ski your run and good things will come.
Brad Wilson
It’s awesome to podium in the U.S. I mean - it’s awesome to podium everywhere, but when you get to the finish area and see your score at number one and everyone in the crowd goes nuts, it just means a little more. You get to share it with everyone else, and that’s pretty special.
[on his progression to the podium]
That first run is always the run where you feel most nervous, so I was glad to get across that finish line. I definitely had a lot to improve upon, so I did that in the next two runs and threw on some higher degree of difficulty to take the podium.
RESULTS
Women's Results
Men's Results
Women's World Cup Standings
Men's World Cup Standings
BROADCAST AND LIVE STREAMING (times EST)
Saturday, Jan 14
4:30 p.m. – Men’s and Women’s Moguls – NBC
8:15 p.m. – Men’s and Women’s Aerial Finals – nbcsports.com – LIVE STREAM
Sunday, Jan. 15
4:30 p.m. – Men’s and Women’s Aerials – NBC
Tuesday, Jan. 17
12:30 a.m. – Re-air TBD – NBCSN
