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.

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

Men