Stratton Mountain, VT – World Cup champion Hannah Kearney stormed down the course to victory, earning her third U.S. moguls title at the Sprint U.S. Freestyle Championships Friday at Stratton Mountain ski resort in her home state of Vermont. Patrick Deneen, of Cle Elum, Wash., stood atop the men’s podium to clinch his first U.S. Championship title.n”It’s really satisfying. I’ve put pressure on myself today because coming into to U.S. Championships with a World Cup title makes me feel like I am obligated to win,” explained Kearney. “But that doesn’t make it easier. It’s still a really competitive field.”
The combination of a gigantic back flip off the top jump, a smooth mute grab 360 on the lower hit and a blazing fast time, Kearney ended the season in the manner she started it – on top. Kearney has accomplished the skiing equivalent to the Triple Crown this year. She won the Freestyle World Cup overall and moguls titles, and she is now also the U.S. champion. These are accomplishments few manage to achieve in a career; Kearney has put them together throughout a near perfect season.
“We are the U.S. Ski Team. We battle it out all season long and here is where the title is given out,” said Kearney of competing for the U.S. Championship title. “Aside from Sunday’s dual moguls, this is my last event of the year. This is the icing on the cake or the chocolate drizzle. It’s just a really nice way to end, especially here in Vermont.”
In a standout performance, NorAm champion K C Oakley, of Park City, Utah, finished second. Bozeman, Mont.’s Heather McPhie, who is really pushing the sport with her off axis 720, came in third, just .06 points behind Oakley.
“K C was the NorAm champ did a great job today,” commented U.S. Head Coach Scott Rawles.
Back on top of the podium for the first time since his victory in the World Cup opener in Ruka, Finland, Deneen qualified first and with a convincing run in the finals, stayed in the top spot. Jeremy Cota, of Carrabassett Valley, Maine, came in second, with Steamboat Springs, Colo.’s Ryan Dyer third. This was Dyer’s first podium finish since December.
“It was a fun day and it feels really great to finally win U.S. Championships. It has been a dream of mine,” said Deneen. “This whole year I’ve been skiing really well, being fourth in the world was not a bad year at all.”
“Pat skied great today,” said Rawles. “He had one of the fastest times of the finals; it was a good way for Pat to finish off the year.”
During the awards ceremony, the North American Snowsports Journalists Association presented Kearney with the Paul Robbins Outstanding Competitor Award that is presented annually by NASJA to a top competitive skier or snowboarder. Kearney was selected for her record season winning nine freestyle moguls World Cups and the season-long title.
OFFICIAL RESULTS
Sprint U.S. Freestyle Championships
Stratton Mountain, VT – March 25, 2011
Moguls
Men
1. Patrick Deneen, Cle Elum, WA, 26.31
2. Jeremy Cota, Carrabassett Valley, ME, 25.53
3. Ryan Dyer, Steamboat Springs, CO, 24.92
Women
1. Hannah Kearney, Norwich, VT, 26.62
2. K C Oakley, Park City, UT, 24.93
3. Heather McPhie, Bozeman, MT, 24.87