Calgary (AB), Canada – Olympic Champion Hannah Kearney continued her unbeaten streak Saturday with a fifth consecutive individual moguls World Cup victory. Kearney led four U.S. women into the top 10 in Calgary, while Jeremy Cota was fourth to lead three U.S. men into the top 10 in a competition won by Mikael Kingsbury of Canada.nSaturday’s finals were cold and snowy, providing conditions that were radically different from the 50 degree slush experienced Thursday for qualifying. Despite the weather, the U.S. women put all four athletes into the top 10.

“The conditions were a little bit challenging,” said Kearney, of Norwich, Vt. “It kept changing as the snow accumulated. It caused the bumps to get really deep, which caused problems for some skiers.”

With Kearney earning her fifth straight victory, Eliza Outtrim (Steamboat Springs, Colo.) just missed the podium in fourth. Heather McPhie (Bozeman, Mont.) finished sixth and Heidi Kloser (Vail, Colo.) eighth.

“I’m really happy right now,” exclaimed Kearney. “I’m feeling very excited to head back to American soil. I think we are in a great position headed into World Championships.”

U.S. Ski Team Freestyle Head Coach Scott Rawles gave his assessment of Kearney’s performance. “Hannah is full of confidence right now. She didn’t even train yesterday, she just came out and got it done again! She has a lot of confidence and momentum rolling into Deer Valley.”

Canada’s Audrey Robichaud brought in her second career podium, and second medal in as many weeks, with a silver finish. Ekaterina Stolyarova of Russia was third at 22.59.

“It’s incredible, I’m feeling super good, because it’s my second podium in two weeks, so I’m really, really excited for World Championships next week,” said Robichaud.

2006 Olympic Champion and five-time Crystal Globe winner Jenn Heil, who announced earlier this week that Saturday’s event would be her last in Canada, finished a disappointing 12th after an uncharacteristic fall.

“I got caught in some snow — I couldn’t really believe that happened,” said Heil. “I was definitely disappointed because I wanted to have a good run for everyone here.

The men’s Canadian mogul team continued what has been a stellar season so far, with Kingsbury and Olympic Champion Alex Bilodeau taking men’s gold and silver with respective scores of 24.25 and 24.16. Russia’s Alexandr Smyshlyaev was third at 23.53.

“It was awesome for the little snow and I did exactly what I wanted,” said 18-year-old Kingsbury, who currently sits in second place in the FIS World Cup standings. “I skied fast, not the fastest, but pretty fast with my two jumps, so I’m super happy.”

Bilodeau was full of admiration for his younger teammate, saying, “Mikael’s not an up-and-comer any more, he’s here to stay. He’s one of the leaders in the world and, he’s going to stick for at least eight years. It’s going to be his first Olympics probably in Sochi, and then probably the others. We probably have an Olympic champion in our back pocket and Canada doesn’t even know about it yet.”

The U.S. men, not to be overshadowed, also had good results Saturday, led by Cota, of Carrabassett Valley, Maine, who missed the podium by one tenth of a point. “He is right on the doorstep, commented Rawles.

For Joe Discoe (Telluride, Colo.), who finished sixth, Saturday’s result marked a career best on the World Cup. Rawles was enthusiastic after Discoe’s run saying, “He qualified in fourth and had a good weekend this weekend, so hopefully he’ll take that momentum into Deer Valley.”

Nate Roberts (Park City, Utah), who finished 10th, and David Digravio, (Farmington, Maine) who was 12th, are both vying for a start in this week’s World Championships. The U.S. Freestyle Ski Team will officially name its athletes for the FIS World Championships today.

World Champion Patrick Deneen (Cle Elum, Wash.) and Bryon Wilson (Butte, Mont.) did not compete Saturday in Calgary. The two athletes have spent the week training for the World Championships at the Center of Excellence in Park City, Utah.

“I have a good feeling where we are right now, said Rawles about his team going into the World Championships. “I think a lot of people are peaking with their skiing right now.”

The World Championships hosted by Deer Valley Resort in Park City will run Feb. 2-5. Individual moguls finals are scheduled for Wednesday Feb. 2, the first day of competition.

OFFICIAL RESULTS
FIS Freestyle World Cup
Calgary, AB – Jan. 28, 2011
Moguls

Men
1. Mikael Kingsbury, Canada. 24.25
2. Alexandre Bilodeau, Canada. 24.16
3. Alexandr Smyshlyaev, Russia. 23.53

Women
1. Hannah Kearney, Norwich, VT. 24.43
2. Audrey Robichaud, Canada. 22.71
3. Ekaterina Stolyarova, Russia. 22.59