CALGARY, Alberta (Jan. 30, 2016) – Six U.S. athletes posted top-20 finishes at the FIS Freestyle Skiing moguls World Cup at the Canada Olympic Park in Calgary, Alberta on Saturday. Mikaela Matthews (Frisco, CO) lead the charge for the women, finishing 8th, while Jeremy Cota (Carabassett Valley, ME) was the top men’s finisher in 12th.
The Canadian team performed once again on their home turf with Chloe Dufour-LaPointe, Justine Dufour LaPointe and Andi Naude sweeping the podium for the women. Mikael Kingsbury and Philippe Marquis went one-two for Canada on the men’s podium, with Japan’s Sho Endo taking third.
After an 18th place finish last week in Val St. Come, Matthews came back in to form and secured the 12th top-10 finish of her career. Her skiing and jumping were strong, but slower speed in her first final run kept her out of the top six for the super final.
“I just cleaned up my whole run this week,” said Matthews.” I struggled with the exit on top air during my comp run in Val St. Come, but I tried to make sure everything was really clean. After not making it all the way around on my back full in training and getting a little mentally freaked out, I was able to put down a really good one off the bottom air during the comp and was happy with that. I wish I would have skied a little faster to make that top six, but overall I’m happy with the package that I have right now. Moving forward, I think I can do what needs to be done to break in to that top six and get on the podium.”
In a stacked men’s field, Dylan Walcyzk (Rochester, NY) and Cota put down competitive runs, qualifying in 6th and 9th respectively. Cota chose to up his degree of difficulty on the top air in final one, but was unable to cleanly execute and missed the super final. Walcyzk finished his day in 14th.
World Cup action continues next week in Park City, UT with the fan-favorite Visa Freestyle International at Deer Valley Resort.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Six U.S. athletes finished in the top 20 at the FIS Freestyle moguls World Cup in Calgary, Alberta.
- Mikaela Matthews was the top women’s finisher in 8th. Jeremy Cota was the top men’s finisher in 12th.
- Ali Kariotis was 11th, Nessa Dziemian 15th, Jaelin Kauf 19th, Keaton McCargo 22nd and Heidi Kloser 26th.
- Dylan Walczyk was 14th, Troy Murphy 21st and Bruce Perry Jr. 23rd. Bryon Wilson did not finish.
- The next stop on the World Cup tour is the Visa Freestyle International at Deer Valley Resort in Park City, UT Feb. 406.
QUOTES
Mikaela Matthews
I just cleaned up my whole run this week. I struggled with the exit on top air during my comp run in Val St. Come, but I tried to make sure everything was really clean. After not making it all the way around on my back full in training and getting a little mentally freaked out, I was able to put down a really good one off the bottom air during the comp and was happy with that. I wish I would have skied a little faster to make that top six, but overall I’m happy with the package that I have right now. Moving forward, I think I can do what needs to be done to break in to that top six and get on the podium.
RESULTS
Men’s Moguls
Women’s Moguls
