Rounding out the women’s field was Alison Digravio of the US, who battled her teammate Keaton McCargo for the bronze.

Naude, who skis with the Canadian Sport Centre’s Academy program under coach Bobby Aldighieri, said, “I’m super happy and surprised to win four in a row. I just go out there and focus on the process and pretend every run is just like training.”

For her part, Hamel was overjoyed with her performance, “I’m really happy, really proud. I’ve been waiting for a NorAm podium for a long time. But I’m a bit surprise that it came in duals because I’m not really a dual girl, I prefer singles.”

Other Canadian women to advance to finals were Alex-Anne Gagnon of Terrebonne, Que. who finished in eighth and Myriam LeClerc of Beaconsfield, Que. who was 10^th.

On the men’s side the Canadians did not fare as well. Yesterday’s bronze medalist in single moguls, PO Gagné of Montreal, was the top Canadian qualifier, in second position, but lost a close dual to American Wade Parkinson.

Gagné finished the day in ninth. He said, “It is not disappointing because I feel like I skied like I needed to, just disappointing that I lost my first dual when I skied really well and in my head I was in the top four again. I feel like I skied super good, I didn’t drop one turn.”

The podium was an American sweep with Landon Gardner in top spot. Shane Cordeau took the silver and Nathan Roberts was third.

Julien Dufresne of Lorraine, Que. was the only other Canadian man to advance to finals, he finished in 16^th position.

Canadian National Team members Simon Lemieux of Repentigny, Que. and Hugo Blanchette of Ïle d’Orléans, Que. did not advance to finals.

Mogul NorAm continues February 24 and 26 in Killington, Vermont.

For more information, or to arrange for athlete interviews contact CFSA Media Relations Manager Kelley Korbin at: kelleykorbin@freestyleski.com

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Full results available at: http://www.fqsa.com/index.php?option=com_fqsa&view=results&eventid=92&Itemid=108

Miki Ito, Audrey Robichaud, Aiko Uemeura

NAEBA, JAPAN (February 19, 2012) – Audrey Robichaud stopped American Hannah Kearney’s 16-win streak en route to her first FIS World Cup victory here today.

Quebec City’s Robichaud took on Kearney in the semi finals and then went on to beat Japan’s Aiko Uemura in the finals. Miki Ito, also of Japan, was third, she beat Kearney in the small final.

“I can’t believe it myself,” said Robichaud from the finish area. “I was actually pretty nervous in the gate against Hannah, Marc (coach Marc-Andre Moreau) told me to be the first out of the gate, so that’s what I did. I really don’t know what happened next, I got to the bottom and was happy I skied strong, then I heard that I beat her. Later I heard that she made a little mistake in her run.”

Robichaud, who earned the silver medal yesterday in the singles competition, added, “I’m really, really, really happy right now. I seriously cannot believe it myself. Now I just want to keep my good rhythm. I’m feeling really good about my skiing and my jumping and I’m really excited for the rest of the season.”

Other Canadian women who advanced to finals included Justine Dufour-Lapointe of Montreal who finished fifth after losing a dual to Ito. Chloe Dufour-Lapointe was ninth; Chelsea Henitiuk of Spruce Grove, Alta . was 12^th and Alexandra Dufresne of Lorraine, Que. was 15^th.

Maxime Dufour-Lapointe and Beatrice Bilodeau failed to advance to finals. They finished 22^nd and 24^th, respectively.

Mikael Kingsbury, Patrick Deneen, Philippe Marquis

On the men’s side American Patrick Deneen edged Mikael Kingsbury in the final dual of the night. Philippe Marquis took the bronze after beating Bradley Wilson of the US.

“I made some mistakes just before my bottom air on my finals run. We were going pretty fast and I saw Patrick out of the corner of my eye so I pushed it just a little too hard,” explained Kingsbury, “But I heard it was pretty close.”

The Deux-Montagnes, Quebec native who has medalled in every event this season, clinched the FIS Moguls Crystal Globe with his win here yesterday – the fifth Canadian man to accomplish this feat in the past 32 years (Greg Athans ’80, Bill Keenan ’83, Jean-Luc Brassard ’93, ’96, ’97, and Alex Bilodeau 2009). The 19-year-old said, “It’s pretty crazy, like a dream come true. I won’t believe it until I have the globe in my hand.”

For his part, Marquis was thrilled to be on the podium for the third time this year (he took bronze in Lake Placid and silver last week in China). It wasn’t an easy night for the Quebec City native who went up against teammates Cedric Rochon of St. Sauveur, Que. and Kingsbury on his way to the podium. Rochon followed his third place victory yesterday with a 13^th place finish.

“Going against Cedric in the first round, both of us were in our bubble, like we were going against anyone. But against Mik I was less stressed, we said good luck to each other at the top and and bumped fists,” said Marquis.

Marquis added what many of the competitors here were feeling after 10 World Cup races already this season. “I was so tired, a month of travelling.” He explained, “When I got to the small final against Wilson I hoped I didn’t do two extra runs for nothing, so I took all the energy I had left pushed it.”

It was the third competition in a row where all five Canadian men qualified for the 16-man finals.

Eddie Hicks of Langley, B.C. was sixth after besting Finland’s Ville Miettunen in the round of 16 and then losing to Kingsbury. Terrebonne, Quebec’s Marc-Antoine Gagnon was 7^th after beating Sweden’s Per Spett in the first round and then losing to Deneen in the quarter finals.

The World Cup circuit continues next week with an aerial event in Minsk, Belarus on Feb. 25. The mogul and aerial squads will compete next in a Europa Cup on the Sochi, Russia Olympic courses March 4 & 5.

Dual mogul NorAm action takes place Sunday in Val St. Come, Quebec and will be webcast live at: http://freestyleski.com/wp/st-come-noram-livestream/

For more information, or to arrange for athlete interviews contact CFSA Media Relations Manager Kelley Korbin at: kelleykorbin@freestyleski.com

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AGATE

MOGULS WORLD CUP

FEBRUARY 19, 2012 – NAEBA, JAPAN

Complete FIS World Cup Results:

http://www.fis-ski.com/uk/604/610.html?sector=FS&raceid=6225

Top 16 and Canadian Results:

WOMEN

MEN

The Val St. Come course is one of the most difficult on the circuit, Canadian National Team Mogul Coach Adrian Taggart said, “This course really separates the men from the mice and we saw that today. Andi is the strongest girl out here and she shone on this tougher course. PO skied really well, especially in finals.”

Naude earned a score of 21.35. Ali Kariotis and Anna Park of the US took the silver and bronze with scores of 20.55 and 19.91, respectively.

“I really do prefer a challenging course,” said Naude, a 16-year-old who calls Okanagan Falls, B.C. home. “It pushes me to be on top of my game mentally and physically.”

Other Canadian women who made finals included St. Sauver, Quebec’s Christel Hamel in fifth; Myriam Leclerc of Beaconsfield, Que. in ninth; and Alex-Anne Gagnon of Terrebonne, Que. in 11th

On the men’s side, Gagné, a Canadian National Team member, won the bronze medal with a score of 23.48. Americans took the top spots with Dylan Walczyk first at 25.80 and Nicholas Keating second at 24.57.

“I’m stoked to win my first NorAm medal at my home mountain,” said Montreal’s Gagné. “I didn’t ski that well in Apex (last week) but this result will boost my confidence for the rest of the season.”

Other Canadian men to make finals were Laurent Dumais of St-Augustin-de-Desmaures, Que. in fifth; National Team member Simon Lemieux of Repentigny, Que. in 12^th.

Mogul NorAm continues tomorrow with dual moguls and will be webcast live at: http://freestyleski.com/wp/st-come-noram-livestream/

For more information, or to arrange for athlete interviews contact CFSA Media Relations Manager Kelley Korbin at: kelleykorbin@freestyleski.com

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Full results from today’s NorAm at: www.fqsa.com/index.php?option=com_fqsa&view=results&eventid=92&Itemid=108

Jeremy Cota, USA; Mikael Kingsbury, CAN, Cedric Rochon, CAN

NAEBA, JAPAN (February 18, 2012) – Under very snowy and foggy conditions, the Canadian Freestyle Mogul Team earned four FIS World Cup medals here today.

Mikael Kingsbury was first in the men’s division for his eighth win and ninth podium out of nine events so far this season. His teammate Cedric Rochon was third. The men were matched by women Audrey Robichaud and Justine Dufour-Lapointe who took silver and bronze medals.

Varying weather conditions with up to three centimeters of snow falling per hour made the course here tough for all the competitors. The bumps were soft and forgiving, but the quantity of snow meant course holds, and changes in the lines for every run.

For the second World Cup in a row, all five Canadian men entered in the competition qualified for finals.

Deux-Montagnes, Quebec’s Kingsbury emerged the victor after throwing an impressive twisting backflip and cork 1080 for his air today. He scored 25.34. Jeremy Cota of the US was second at 24.76 and Rochon took the bronze at 24.50.

Kingsbury said, “This morning because there was a lot of fog in the course, and a lot of delays. It was hard to find good balance in training, but when I found it my skiing went well. I’m happy, but most of all I’m super stoked for Cedric for his first podium, I’m so happy for my roommate.”

Rochon said, “I’m so happy, I don’t realize it yet, my first podium on world Cup I got my job done for the first time. I skied really well.” The St. Sauveur, Quebec-native added, “For sure I want to be on the podium and share a victory with my teammates again.”

Philippe Marquis of Quebec City, Que. was the next Canadian in fifth position at 24.28. Marc-Antoine Gagnon of Terrebonne, Que. was 12^th at 22.76. Eddie Hicks of Langley, B.C. fell in finals and was 16^th.

On the women’s side, Quebec City’s Audrey Robichaud earned her first FIS World Cup podium of the season, a silver medal at 24.24. She was joined on the podium by youngster Justine Dufour-Lapointe of Montreal who took the bronze medal at 24.02. It was the 17-year-old’s seventh World Cup medal of the season.

The seemingly unstoppable American Hannah Kearney blocked a Canadian sweep, taking the gold at 25.49. Chloé Dufour-Lapointe was fourth at 23.85.

Robichaud, who compressed a disc in her lower back early in the summer and missed most of the off-season training as well as the first two FIS World Cups of the season, was bubbling with joy, “I’m really stoked right now; I’ve been working on getting my back stronger, getting used to impact for my back. Getting on the podium today is really big after the year I’ve had.”

Robichaud is known on the circuit for having some of the biggest jumps in the women’s field and that was her tactic today. “I didn’t think my run was that good but I’m glad I went big on both my airs. I try to go big all the time — I like to, and the judges seem to like it too.”

Justine Dufour-Lapointe said she too was happy with her performance. “It’s been a really tough competition and I’m tired after a lot of competitions in a row. So, I really have to fight and ski with my heart.” She added that today was particularly hard for her because, “In Quebec we’re not used to skiing the powder, we’re used to ice. This was very different but I like going fast in the fluffy moguls.”

Dufour-Lapointe’s older sister, Chloé, had her second fourth place finish in as many weeks at 23.85. “You want to be on the podium and all that stuff, but this year I was looking for consistency and this is what I’m working hard for and I got that today.”

Chelsea Henitiuk of Spruce Grove, Alta. was 12th at 21.14.

Canadian women who did not qualify for finals included: Alexandra Dufresne of Lorraine, Que. in 21^st. Maxime Dufour-Lapointe of Montreal, Que. was 22^nd and Beatrice Bilodeau of Rosemere, Que. was 24^th.

FIS World Cup action continues here tomorrow with a dual mogul event.

Mogul NorAm action takes place in Val St. Come, Quebec this weekend and will be webcast live at: http://freestyleski.com/wp/st-come-noram-livestream/

For more information, or to arrange for athlete interviews contact CFSA Media Relations Manager Kelley Korbin at: kelleykorbin@freestyleski.com

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MOGULS WORLD CUP
FEBRUARY 18, 2012 – NAEBA, JAPAN

Complete FIS World Cup Results:
http://www.fis-ski.com/uk/604/1228.html?event_id=29762&cal_suchsector=FS

Top 16 and Canadian Results:

WOMEN

 MEN

KREISCHBERG, AUSTRIA (February 17, 2012) — Aerials points leader Olivier Rochon failed to earn a finals berth at a World Cup event here today after touching a hand down on the landing of his qualification jump, a quadruple twisting triple backflip.

Rochon finished in 14^th place, in 95.58, less than one point behind the top 12 who advanced to finals.

American Scotty Bahrke won the event for his first career World Cup victory, with a final round score of 118.59. Maxime Gustig of Belarus was second at 117.73 and Dylan Ferguson of the US earned the bronze at 97.35.

“Of course I’m disappointed that I missed my landing and put my hand down,” said Rochon, “But I keep the yellow bib (as the overall FIS men’s aerial leader) and I hope to have a better result next week in Belarus.”

The Gatineau native was the only Canadian in today’s event. He has a total points score of 404 for the season to date. Second in the running for the coveted FIS crystal globe is Zongyang Jia from China with 336.

Rochon is also second to teammate Mikael Kingsbury as the overall points leader for the season. And, once again Canada looks to be a shoe-in for the FIS Freestyle Nations Cup, with 4,175 points amassed to date, to the US’s 3,504.

In the women’s field, Laura Peel of Australia was the leader today at 75.69. Olga Volkova of the Ukraine was second at 74.36 and Yu Yang of China earned the bronze with a score of 70.67 in the super final.

World Cup action continues tomorrow and Sunday with mogul and dual mogul events in Japan. Kingsbury will be going for his ninth-straight podium.

For more information or to arrange for athlete interviews contact CFSA Media Relations Manager Kelley Korbin at: kelleykorbin@freestyleski.com.

Naude, 16, took won the singles yesterday with a score of 24.90 in the ladies super final. Americans Ali Kariotis and Sophia Schwartz were second and third with scores of 23.93 and 19.76, respectively.

Today Naude went up against Schwartz in the final. It was a close dual, as Schwartz beat the Canadian across the line. But in the end, Naude’s turns and air scores gave her the edge. Kariotis was third.

Naude, who is with the BC Freestyle Academy program and calls Apex her home mountain, said, “I probably had a bit of an advantage because I know this course so well.” She added, “I was excited to compete at home in front of my friends and family.”

And her family’s reaction to her success here? “My mom was happy I made it down the course safe.”

On the men’s side, the US swept the podium in yesterday’s single mogul competition. Troy Tully was first at 24.87, Nathan Roberts was second at 24.7 and Nicholas Keating was third at 22.06.

Luke Ulsifer of Calgary was the top Canadian man in seventh position.

Ulsifer, who is a four-year member of the Alberta Freestyle Team, said “I was really happy to make finals for the first time in a NorAm. This is one of my favorite courses and I’m pretty confident on it.” Ulsifer also made finals today, finishing in 15^th.

In the rest of duals action, Americans Shane Cordeau and Reed Snyderman were first and second. In the small final Canadian National Team rookie Simon Lemieux battled his one-time idol American Nathan Roberts and the Repentigny, Que. native emerged the bronze medalist.

It was Lemieux’s best NorAm finish this year. “I couldn’t ask for more, especially with my last dual against my hero from when I was young. Today I was fast and I did two good jumps against Roberts.”

NorAm action continues next week with moguls events in Val St. Come, Quebec.

Full results were not available at publication time. They will be posted at: http://freestyleski.com/wp/results/

Turski, who won the X Games two weeks ago and was also crowned X Games female athlete of the year, has had a perfect season so far, winning every slopestyle event she’s entered.

The Montreal-native had today’s event sewn up on the first run where she scored a 93.75. Anna Segal of Australia was second at 90.75 and Logan took the bronze medal at 89.00.

The slopestyle course in Snowbasin was fairly technical, with three rail features and two jumps. It’s the kind of course Turski loves. “The course really worked in my favor because I’m strong on the rails and I worked hard to get my rail game on point here.”

Turski, who didn’t have a slopestyle coach before this season, credits hard work and the resources that have become available to her since the Olympic announcement, from the Canadian Freestyle Ski Association and its partners as well and her main personal sponsor, Red Bull, with her results to date this season.

“I feel like all my hard work’s been paying off  — in the gym and the summer and with my coaches and sponsor. It’s exciting to have it all pay off. And I work well with [my coaches] Toben [Sutherland] and JF [Cusson]. It definitely feels good to have people at the start gate cheering for you and people to consult on your run. Before I only had my friends, and they were my competitors, so it wasn’t quite the same.”

Huntsville, Ontario’s Dara Howell, the newest member of the Canadian National Slopestyle Team, was sixth in the semi-finals, just missing a berth into today’s finals.

Turski also finished on top of the Dew Cup standings with 200 points.

On the men’s side, four Canadians advanced to finals, but none reached the podium. The US swept the top spots with Nick Goepper in first at 95.00, Tom Wallisch in second at 92.25 and Bobby Brown third at 91.00.

The top Canadian was St. Boniface, Que.’s Alex Bellemare in sixth at 88.00. Next was Alex Beaulieu-Marchand of Quebec City in 10^th at 70.00. Jamieson Irvine of Barrie, Ont. was 11^th at 69.00 and Drummondville, Que.’s JF Houle was 12^th after falling on both his runs, at 13.00.

Canadian men who did not advance to finals included: Vincent Gagnier of Victoriaville, Que. in 17^th; Philip Casabon of Grand-Mère, Que. in 19^th; Charles Gagnier of Victoriaville, Que. in 22^nd; and, Alexi Godbout of Mont Tremblant, Que. in 24^th.

Turski’s medal wraps up a six-medal weekend for the Canadian Freestyle Team, including one in aerials, one in halfpipe, three in moguls and one in ski slopestyle.

The National Slopestyle and Halfpipe Teams next compete at the Mammoth Mountain World Cup on March 2 and 3.

Freestyle action continues this week with back-to-back mogul NorAm competitions at Apex Mountain Resort tomorrow and Tuesday; an FIS World Cup Aerials event in Kreischberg, Austria on February 17 and a World Cup mogul competition in Naeba, Japan on February 18.

For more information or to schedule athlete interviews, contact Canada Freestyle Media Relations Manager Kelley Korbin at: kelleykorbin@freestyleski.com.

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Full Dew Tour results available at: http://www.allisports.com/winter-dew-tour/results

TOYOTA CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON 2012 SKI SLOPESTYLE FINALS

1 Nick Goepper 95.00

2 Tom Wallisch 92.25

3 Bobby Brown 91.00

4 Chris Laker 90.25

5 Russ Henshaw 89.50

6 Alex Bellemare 88.00

7 James Woods 87.00

8 Joss Christensen 82.00

9 Andreas Håtveit 76.00

10 Alex Beaulieu-Marchand 70.00

11 Jamieson Irvine 69.00

12 Jf Houle 13.00

TOYOTA CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON 2012 SKI SLOPESTYLE WOMEN FINALS

1 Kaya Turski 93.75

2 Anna Segal 90.75

3 Devin Logan 89.00

4 Emilia Wint 82.00

5 Keri Herman 77.00

6 Ashley Battersby 71.75

Mogul wunderkind Mikael Kingsbury won his seventh FIS World Cup gold and eighth medal of the season with a score of 26.53. He was joined in the super final by teammates Philippe Marquis and Marc-Antoine Gagnon. Marquis tied for silver with Dimitriy Reiherd of Kazakhstan at 25.34. Gagnon finished just outside the podium in fourth at 24.56, tying his best career performance.

Kingsbury, who’s six-win streak was broken last week in a duals event where he had to settle for silver, said, “I’m happy, I’m still perfect in singles for the season and I feel good, maybe I’ll start a new streak.” But, the Deux-Montagnes, Que. native quickly clarified, “Actually, I really don’t focus on the wins, I am just trying to focus on being consistent every run and not make mistakes. So, every course I for sure try to find the strategy that will give me my best performance, but not to focus just on winning.”

Marquis was more animated in his characterization of the day, “The Canadian guys kicked some butt in China today,” the Quebec City native exclaimed, adding, “I’m really, really excited. I am working harder on my training, trying not to be lazy and trying to have great runs, run after run, and I think it’s starting to work.” It was Marquis’ best result to date, and his second career World Cup podium, his first was a bronze medal last month in Lake Placid.

Langley, B.C.’s Eddie Hicks and St. Sauveur, Que.’s Cedric Rochon rounded out the strong Canadian men’s showing. They both also made the men’s final, finishing in seventh and ninth positions, respectively.

On the women’s side, Justine Dufour-Lapointe earned her sixth silver medal of the season with a score of 25.69 in the super final. American Hannah Kearney took the gold, her 15^th consecutive World Cup victory, at 25.69. Yulia Galysheva of Kazakhstan was third at 25.33 and Chloé Dufour-Lapointe was fourth at 24.70.

Justine, the youngest of the three Montreal Dufour-Lapointe sisters, said her performance tonight was the closest she’s come to edging the seemingly unbeatable Kearney. “And, I didn’t even make my best 360 today,” she added, “So it’s good to know that I’m getting close to her.”

Justine was also happy to be in the super final with her sister Chloé, “We were excited that we might be able to do a small sister sweep,” she said.

Alas, it was not to be this time, as a small mistake on her top air cost Chloé a spot on the podium, but she was pragmatic, “I went all in, and mistakes are part of the game, plus, it was my first time in the super final so I’m just figuring out how to do it,” said Chloé.

Quebec City’s Audrey Robichaud narrowly missed super final and finished in fifth position. Maxime Dufour-Lapointe also made finals and finished 10^th.

Canadian women who did not earn a spot in finals included Chelsea Henitiuk of Spruce Grove, Alta., who was 18^th, Beatrice Bilodeau of Rosemere, Que. who was 19^th and Alexandra Dufresne of Lorraine, Que. who was 21^st.

Dew Tour finals update

Rosalind Groenewoud

OGDEN, UTAH (February 11, 2012 ) – X Games and world champion Rosalind Groenewoud won the silver medal in the women’s division of the final stop of the Dew Tour here today on one of the steepest and longest halfpipes in the world.

Despite a couple of mistakes in both of her runs, Groenewoud managed a high score of 82.50 to edge out the competition except American Devin Logan who took the gold with a score of 90.00. Maddie Bowman, also of the US, earned the bronze with a score of  80.00.

“In my first run I messed up my straight air, which is something I don’t think I’ve ever done before. And, in my second run I was doing a new trick – a left-side cork 540 – and I had a little hand touch on my landing,” said Groenewoud who added, “Even with my mistakes today, I feel like I’m skiing really well and I’m happy with my new trick. I’m thinking about some other new tricks I’ll be working on over the next couple of weeks.”

Groenewoud was the only Canadian woman to earn a spot in today’s final. Megan Gunning and Keltie Hansen, both of Calgary, finished eighth and 14^th, respectively, after the qualification round.

On the men’s side, Mike Riddle and Matt Margetts represented Canada in the pipe today, but unfortunately neither managed to score high enough to challenge for the podium.

Riddle, who hails from Edmonton, Alta., was 7^th at 83.75 and Penticton, B.C.’s Margetts was 11^th at  40.00.

David Wise of the U.S. ruled the pipe today with a winning score of 94.50. Kevin Rolland of France was second at 93.00 and American Torin Yater-Wallace took third place at 92.75.

The Dew Tour finals continue tomorrow with ski slopestyle.

For more information, or to arrange for athlete interviews, contact Canadian Freestyle Media Relations Manager Kelley Korbin at: kelleykorbin@freestyleski.com.

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MOGULS WORLD CUP

February 12, 2012 – BEIDA LAKE, CHINA

Complete FIS World Cup Results: http://www.fis-ski.com/uk/604/1228.html?event_id=29760&cal_suchsector=FS

Top 16 and Canadian Results:

WOMEN

MEN

————-

DEW TOUR

TOYOTA CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON 2012

SKI SUPERPIPE FINALS – February 11, 2012

1. David Wise 94.50

2. Kevin Rolland 93.00

3. Torin Yater-Wallace 92.75

4. Simon Dumont 91.75

5. Thomas Krief 90.75

6. AJ Kemppainen 86.25

7. Mike Riddle, Edmonton, Alta. 83.75

8. Tucker Perkins 78.00

9. Josiah Wells 76.75

10. Gus Kenworthy 75.00

11. Matt Margetts, Penticton, B.C., 40.00

12. Benoit Valentin 29.75

16. Simon D’artois 57.00

21. Noah Bowman 20.75

SKI SUPERPIPE WOMEN FINALS

1. Devin Logan 90.00

2. Rosalind Groenewoud, Calgary, Alta, 82.50

3. Maddie Bowman 80.00

4. Anais Caradeux 70.00

5. Ayana Onozuka 67.25

6. Brita Sigourney 54.50

8. Megan Gunning, Calgary, Alta., 63.75

14. Keltie Hansen, Calgary, Alta., 47.50

Olivier Rochon

BEIDA LAKE, CHINA (February 11, 2012) – Canada’s Olivier Rochon battled freezing temperatures and high winds en route to a bronze medal in the FIS Freestyle aerial event here today.

The weather caused some serious consternation amongst athletes and coaches who were worried about safety. Eventually, organizers altered the regular format to a one-jump event, which meant that each athlete had only one chance and about three-and-a-half seconds in the air to make the podium.

Guangpu Qi of China used his airtime well and placed first with a considerable score of 131.67; his countryman Zongyang Zia took the silver at 127.66 and Rochon was third with a score of 123.45.

Rochon explained that most of the aerialists had planned to downgrade their jumps, but not him. “Because of the wind I only got a couple of training jumps in, but I was confident about them so I decided to go for my hardest trick, [a quadruple twisting, triple backflip]. When the Chinese guys who jumped after me saw that I landed well, they decided to do harder tricks too … I don’t mind, I’m happy for them, but I am glad that I blocked a Chinese sweep.

Rochon said he is confident in challenging weather conditions because he has good skiing skills, which help him land consistently. “And,” he added, “My first coach, [Nicolas Fontaine], “made us jump in every kind of weather, so I’m ready for anything.”

The bronze medal means Rochon, who has been on the podium four times already this season, keeps a grip on the yellow leader’s bib by a margin of 50 points over Jia. When asked if he’s feeling pressure to keep amassing results, Rochon replied, “I try not too look at the big picture, when I do that I get ahead of myself and I learned the hard way that when I get ahead of myself I go down. So, I’m working really hard to stay in the moment and look at everything jump by jump.”

Montreal’s Jean-Christophe André was the only other Canadian in today’s competition. He finished 14^th after slapping back on his landing.

“I’m a bit disappointed. I got a little excited on my takeoff today so I leaned back too much. The conditions were hard, but this was my mistake and I’m looking forward to making up for it later in the month,” said André.

On the women’s side, China swept the podium with Xin Zhang in top spot at 101.16; Mengtao Xu second at 95.70 and Shuang Cheng third with a score of 89.30.

There were no Canadian women represented at the event today.

World Cup action continues here tomorrow with a mogul event. The Canadian Halfpipe and Slopestyle teams compete in the Dew Tour finals in Ogden, UT tomorrow and Sunday

Labbé-Giguère represents Canada at UOP aerial NorAms, finishes seventh

At the Utah Olympic Park in the third of three aerial NorAm events today, Canada’s lone entry, Marc-Antoine Labbé-Giguère, was seventh. Americans swept the men’s and women’s podiums as Michael Rossi, Mac Bohonnon and Jack Boyczuk took the men’s division; while Madison Olsen, Madison Gorelik and Sara Swenson went one, two, three on the women’s side.

Labbé-Giguère was happy with his performance over the three events, where he finished seventh, tenth and seventh.

“I have some work to do on my jumps, especially my full-full, for sure,” said the 20-year-old who resides in Quebec City, “but I didn’t get to jump much this winter so far because I broke my ankle in November, now that I’m on snow my jumps are getting better and better the more I train.”

Canada’s only other NorAm-level aerialist, Quebec Team’s Dave Blais, sat out today’s event with concussion symptoms.

For more information, or to arrange for athlete interviews, contact Canadian Freestyle Media Relations Manager Kelley Korbin at: kelleykorbin@freestyleski.com.

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MOGULS WORLD CUP

FEBRUARY 11, 2012 – BEIDA LAKE, CHINA

Complete FIS World Cup Results: http://www.fis-ski.com/uk/604/1228.html?event_id=29760&cal_suchsector=FS

WOMEN

MEN

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AERIALS NORAM

FEBRUARY 10, 2012 – UTAH OLYMPIC PARK

Complete FIS NorAm Results: http://www.fis-ski.com/uk/604/1228.html?event_id=30285&cal_suchsector=FS

WOMEN

MEN

Andi Naude

TELLURIDE, COLORADO (February 9, 2012) – B.C.’s Andi Naude came away with her second silver medal in two days at a NorAm event here today.

The 16-year-old from Okanagan Falls was also the fastest woman in the field for the second day in a row. She was second to American Alison Digravio. Lane Stoltzner, also of the US, took the bronze medal.

“I’m so excited, this is only my second NorAm and I wasn’t expecting these results,” said the Grade 10 student. “I really try hard to go for it, but I don’t get that nervous in the gate. I just try to put things into perspective, do my best and have fun. I’m really not trying to win, just trying to ski for the process. Besides, I know there will always be another day.”

Canadian Coach Adrian Taggart said Naude’s attitude might be her best asset, “When you start skiing for scores, they don’t happen. But, when you ski for process, the scores will come; that’s what we’re seeing with Andi.”

The only other Canadian woman to advance to today’s final was Katrine Bazinet of Saint-Hyacinthe, Que., who was eighth.

P-O Gagné

On the men’s side, Montreal’s Pascal-Olivier Gagné of the National Team had a stellar run in finals that landed him in second position going into the super final. Unfortunately that’s where things went a little sideways for him.

“I always go for the win,” said Gagné, “And today I knew that if I wanted to win I had to push, but I pushed a little too hard and lost control at the bottom of the middle section. So I was backseat and went off the jump on one ski.”

Gagné ended the day in fourth. Americans Nelson Scott, Branden Goldenberg and Michael Degrandis swept the podium.

Right behind Gagné was teammate Simon Lemieux of Repentigny, Que., in fifth. Lemieux had an excellent finals run, marred only by a small mistake on his backflip cross. He also had the fastest run of the day.

Other Canadian men to make finals included Toronto’s Heath Bercovitch who finished seventh and Calgary’s David Cooksley who was 14^th.

Aerial NorAm – Utah Olympic Park

PARK CITY, UTAH — On the aerial site at Utah Olympic Park, it was a tough day for our two Canadian athletes who felt the affects of a gusting tail wind and inexperience.

Marc-Antoine Labbé -Giguère of was the top Canadian in 10^th at 109.49. After a solid first jump, a full-full, or two full twisting back flips; the wind died on Labbé -Giguère’s second attempt and he came up short on his lay full, causing him land on the knoll – unhurt, but frustrated by his result.

Dave Blais of Lac Beauport, Que. was 12^th at 103.96.

“Today was a difficult day because of the shifting winds,” said coach Caroline Franc, “I’m actually happy with Marc and Dave’s performances, they could have been better, but they did well in difficult conditions. They both just need more experience.”

There were no Canadian women in today’s event.

Labbé -Giguère and Blais have another opportunity to jump tomorrow at the third and final UOP NorAm event.

The mogul NorAm circuit moves next to Apex Mountain for events on February 13 and 14.

For more information, or to arrange for athlete interviews, contact Canadian Freestyle Media Relations Manager Kelley Korbin at: kelleykorbin@freestyleski.com.

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Telluride Mogul NorAm

February 9, 2012

Results

WOMEN

MEN

Utah Olympic Park aerial NorAm

February 9, 2012

Results

MEN

WOMEN

Full results available at: http://freestyleski.com/wp/results/results-2012/