Still Kingsbury of the hill, as moguls event kicks off
‘I’m not thinking about the gold.’ Well, maybe a little.
PY EONG CH A NG • Canada’s Mikael Kingsbury took a comfortable first step on Friday toward the one title he does not own, putting down the highest score of the day in the first qualifiers of the men’s moguls competition.
Kingsbury’s score of 86.03 put him straight through to Monday’s final.
“It’s nice to break the ice and do a good run right away,” Kingsbury, 25, of Ste Anne, Que., said after his run at Phoenix Snow Park, adding that he wanted to set the tone for the rest of the field.
That he did. The most decorated freestyle skier in history and six- time reigning World Cup moguls champ showed the rest of the men that he will be exceedingly tough to beat.
The steep Phoenix course raises the degree of difficulty for everyone, which gives an advantage to the best technical moguls skier in the world.
Kingsbury was more than two points clear of Aleksandr Smyshliaev of the Olympic Athletes of Russia, and almost six points better than Japan’s Ikuma Horishima, the only skier to beat him in seven World Cup events this season.
Kingsbury, the silver medallist at Sochi 2014, said he’s not thinking much about what it would mean to win this event.
“I’m going to do it and have fun,” he said. I’m not thinking about the gold. I know it’s in the back of my head sometimes when I go to bed, but there are so many things here I have to go through first.”
Earlier Friday morning, Canada sent three skiers through to the ladies’ moguls finals. Andi Naude was second after her qualifier, Justine Dufour- Lapointe was fourth and Audrey Robichaud was 10th.
The top 10 scores of the 30 skiers in the men’s and ladies’ event moved directly into the finals, which is actually a series of three runs.
Chloe Dufour- Lapointe, who finished 13th after her Friday run, will have a chance in the second qualifier on Sunday to book a spot in the finals.
“I’m thrilled,” said Naude, the 22- year- old from Penticton, B.C.. “To be at the Olympics and do that my first run, I’m really happy with it.”
Philippe Marquis, who torn an ACL in his knee less than a month ago, managed to finish his first run in eighth place to qualify for the finals.
The 28- year- old from Quebec City, who admitted to some dark feelings after the injury, said his injured knee was wrapped “tight like a ( expletive).” He has “What ACL?” written on the wrist of one of his gloves.
“Proud of him,” Kingsbury said of his teammate. “It’s not easy to go down that course without an ACL.”
Canada’s Marc- Antoine Gagnon, who finished 11th in the first qualifier, will ski in the second qualifier on Monday afternoon.