A slushy Rosa Khutor moguls course on Friday night in Krasnaya Polyana, Russia, the Sochi 2014 Olympic venue (photo: US Freestyle Ski Team)

Kearney, Kingsbury Win Moguls in Sochi

Sochi, Russia – Olympic champion Hannah Kearney, of Norwich, Vt., won World Cup under the lights on warm, softened snow on Friday in Rosa Khutor, as Canada’s Mikael Kingsbury won for the men as Olympic test events continue in Sochi.

“Today really tested my skiing and to be able to pull off a win in all the different conditions we experienced makes me confident in my training and my ability,” Kearney said.

A slushy Rosa Khutor moguls course on Friday night in Krasnaya Polyana, Russia, the Sochi 2014 Olympic venue (photo: US Freestyle Ski Team)
A slushy Rosa Khutor moguls course on Friday night in Krasnaya Polyana, Russia, the Sochi 2014 Olympic venue (photo: US Freestyle Ski Team)

It was a strong day for the USA with six women making the round of 16 semifinals and four moving on into the six personal finals. The win boosted Kearney into the World Cup moguls lead for the first time this season even though she missed the first part of the winter while recovering from a pre-season injury.

 

Eliza Outtrim, of Hamden, Conn., was second with Bozeman, Mont.’s Heather McPhie fourth – missing the podium on a tiebreaker with Aiko Uemura of Japan. In the World Cup moguls standings, McPhie is third after Friday night’s comp with Outtrim now fourth.

“It was a tough day out there,” Outtrim acknowledged, “but I couldn’t be more pleased with the way I skied. The conditions weren’t exactly ideal but we were all at the same disadvantage and so many people skied really well.”

Patrick Deneen, of Cle Elum, Wash., was second in the men’s competition to Mikael Kingsbury, of Deux-Montagnes, Quebec. Canada’s Phillippe Marquis rounded out the podium with third.

“I am excited,” said Kingsbury who has won five of the seven mogul World Cups so far this season and has a total of 29 podiums on the circuit, including two World Championships medals. “I think this is the biggest thing I have won so far in my life so it’s crazy. I have never won World Championships or the Olympics, and this is the Olympic test event.”

In fact, with the win, Kingsbury earned provisional early nomination to the Canadian Olympic team through the Canadian Freestyle Ski Association’s “Method A” nomination process. He also keeps a firm grip on the yellow bib as the World Cup mogul points leader.

The warm, soft conditions were a challenge for athletes in maintaining consistent speed and landing jumps. But athletes were impressed with the overall venue construction which has all events sharing a common finish area.

“This venue and course is something really special. So many people are a part of making this a success and I’m extremely excited that the Olympics are here in less than a year,” said Kearney.

“This venue is the best I’ve ever seen. To have moguls, aerials and halfpipe all end up in the same spot is pretty crazy. You can feel the energy and everyone feeds off that,” added Deneen.

Olympic test events continue this weekend at Rosa Khutor with halfpipe on Saturday and aerials on Sunday.

OFFICIAL RESULTS
FIS Freestyle World Cup
Sochi, Russia – Feb. 16, 2013
Moguls

Women

Rank Bib Name Year Nation Result Points
 1  2 KEARNEY Hannah 1986 USA  24.74  1000.00
 2  7 OUTTRIM Eliza 1985 USA  23.89  800.00
 3  9 UEMURA Aiko 1979 JPN  23.72  600.00
 4  3 MCPHIE Heather 1984 USA  23.72  500.00
 5  16 ROBICHAUD Audrey 1988 CAN  22.89  450.00
 6  14 MATTHEWS Mikaela 1991 USA  22.16  400.00
 7  1 DUFOUR-LAPOINTE Justine 1994 CAN  23.20  360.00
 8  6 ITO Miki 1987 JPN  23.1  320.00
 9  5 DUFOUR-LAPOINTE Chloe 1991 CAN  23.06  290.00
 10  8 OAKLEY K C 1988 USA  22.75  260.00

Men

Rank Bib Name Year Nation Result Points
 1  1 KINGSBURY Mikael 1992 CAN  25.93  1000.00
 2  3 DENEEN Patrick 1987 USA  24.96  800.00
 3  11 MARQUIS Philippe 1989 CAN  24.68  600.00
 4  6 ENDO Sho 1990 JPN  23.88  500.00
 5  4 SMYSHLYAEV Alexandr 1987 RUS  450.00
 6  44 ANDERSEN Tevje Lie 1991 NOR  400.00
 7  24 GRAHAM Matt 1994 AUS  23.16  360.00
 8  37 BURILLE Arnaud 1988 FRA  23.09  320.00
 9  13 POULIOT-CAVANAGH Simon 1990 CAN  23.05  290.00
 10  28 NISHI Nobuyuki 1985 JPN  23.04  260.00

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